The Teddy Bear-David McPhail September 16, 2007
Unfortunately, I just read a pretty negative review about David McPhail’s, The Teddy Bear. The person was concerned with the depiction of a homeless person as a character in the story. A small boy loses his constant companion-a teddy bear-at a restaurant and the teddy bear is discovered in the trash by a homeless man after it was accidentally thrown out. The man, then, makes the bear his constant companion. Through time, the boy finds other toys to take the place of the beloved bear, but one day in the park the boy finds his old teddy bear on a park bench. The homeless man returns to his bench and cries when he finds his new friend gone. As the boy and his parents are leaving the park, the boy notices the anguish of the homeless man as the man cries, “My bear! My bear! Where is my bear?” The boy then turns from the exit and unselfishly gives his teddy bear back to the man. The unhappy reviewer thought the book gave some permission for kids to befriend homeless people and that this could be a dangerous folly. I thought the book showed us a boy who had the sensitivity to know what true unselfishness is. Perhaps, if the boy had been alone… As it was I can almost hear the boy’s parents saying, “That was the nicest thing I’ve ever seen anyone do. I’m proud of you, son.” After reading this books to students, we do discuss the boy and the homeless person. The response from the children is pretty much about how nice the boy is. (Exactly.)
The Teddy Bear
Written and Illustrated by David McPhail
Accelerated Reader RL 3.4
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