a charming old British storybook for little listeners

The Teddy Robinson Storybook, written and illustrated by Joan G. Robinson
this edition published in 2014 by Macmillan Children’s Books

I know Pooh Bear and I know Paddington, but I’ve never before met Teddy Robinson, though his stories have been around since the 1950s.

He’s a nice, middling-sized bear belonging to a small girl named

Deborah. The two of them happily share in adventures, holidays, and sundry outings, chatting amiably together all the while.

The 15 brief, stand-alone stories collected in this volume are the essence of quaint British children’s fare. Tea parties and afternoons

at the park, Wellington boots and miniature jellies in egg cups. Sunny days and pleasant friends. Heaps of imaginative play. And a little something called dolly mixture, just the ticket for birthday tea.

Joan Robinson based these warmhearted stories on her daughter’s stuffed bear, and illustrated them with uncomplicated black line drawings. Whether the two of them are going to the seaside, the hospital, or dance class, Teddy frequently faces some wee problem, not dramatic enough to disturb a young child, but still,  just the sort of niggling concern a small person feels — feeling left out, feeling upstaged, feeling afraid — which must be navigated. Never clobbering us with any tiresome lessons, Robinson winsomely brings the little bear through every trouble with all of his pluck intact.

The closest parallels I can think of for the feel of these stories are the Milly Molly Mandy books. They would make an ideal read-aloud for young children, ages 3-6, who are ready to try stories without many pictures. Short and happy, these will hopefully inspire imaginative, non-electronic ideas for playtime and daydreaming.