Read Dr. Toughlove’s December 2022 column. Enjoy! Happy Holidays!
The holiday season is officially upon us, so Dr. Toughlove thought it would be an ideal time to review the book “Brown Paper Teddy Bear” written by Catherine Allison and illustrated by Neil Reed. This book, written in 2004, continues to be on the top of the list of picture book holiday favorites.
This oversized book tells a story about the night that Jessica, who is asleep in her bed, sees a magical light illuminate her bedroom. She sees a chest of drawers that she doesn’t recognize whose doors open up. Jessica, ever curious, sees this as a sign that she needs to investigate. In the chest she sees many toys, but is drawn to a soft, brown bear, wrapped in brown paper. Dr. Toughlove doesn’t want to disclose all the details, but suffice it to say that Jessica and the brown bear go on a magical adventure that involves a winking moon, toy soldiers, a clown, a dancing doll and other delightful characters that are often depicted in stories during the holiday season.
There are many features in “Brown Paper Teddy Bear” that make it distinctive, but Dr. Toughlove will highlight two of them. First, Neil Reed has created vivid, colorful illustrations that stretch across two pages. Young children tend to be captivated by the pictures and want to identify all of toys/characters they see. Second, the hardcover edition of the book is published on brown paper, reminiscent of brown bags you might get at the grocery store. The texture and color of the paper serves to reinforce the book’s content and provide a pleasing visual/tactile experience.
Dr. Toughlove read this book to her grandchildren numerous times when they were younger, and it was a perennial favorite. Its whimsical, lyrical text coupled with its visual appeal is highly captivating for children and adults alike. No matter what holiday you celebrate this time of year, the underlying themes of hope and belief are universal.
“Brown Paper Teddy Bear” makes a perfect read aloud book during the holiday season, and is recommended for children in grades Pre-Kindergarten – grade 2. It is available at the Queen Anne’s County Library.