Paddington at the Zoo (Paperback)

Sometime BBC cameraman Michael Bond was inspired by a last-remaining puppet bear on Selfridges shelf and memories of wartime evacuees to create possibly the most beloved character in children’s literature. Paddington debuted in 1958’s A Bear Called Paddington, returning in a number of stories that Bond continued to craft until his passing in 2017. A BBC animated series elevated Bond’s concept to almost cult-like status. Aside from Paddington, Bond also created two other series: Olga da Polga (kicking off with 1973’s The Tales Olga da Polga) and Monsieur Pamplemousse, a culinary mystery series for adults.