Teddy Bear of the Year

Teddy Bear of the Year is a heartwarming story told from the perspective of Ollie, a seemingly ordinary teddy bear, lovingly cuddled by his school-aged owner, Amena. Ollie considers himself to be a hard and effective worker, ensuring that Amena is comforted during his “shifts” and guaranteeing that he is always available and “on call”. One night, Ollie is surprised to see an older bear appear to him through Amena’s window. The bear takes him away to attend an annual celebration, the Teddy Bears’ Picnic. Teddy Bears from all over gather to have fun, sing “beareoke,” and, most importantly, give out awards to bears that have made a significant effort to help their owners. Ollie delights in meeting fellow bears who take their jobs just as seriously as he does, and he is ultimately honoured for his work.

This charming, behind-the-scenes look at all the “work” teddy bears do to help children is sure to be a hit with pre-schoolers and even the school-aged set. Cultural references are on point, including a nod to Dolly Parton’s Nine to Five hit. Teddy Bear of the Year is comfortingly formulaic in its plot, with a resoundingly satisfying conclusion. The illustrations are colourful, detailed, and appropriate to the text. There is excellent variability in the word-to-illustration ratio, from one sentence of text per two pages up to several paragraphs on others. Many of these pictures extend across both pages, allowing the reader to thoughtfully take in an entire scene. Teddy Bear of the Year is a well-written and lovingly illustrated book, one imbued with humour that readers of all ages will appreciate.