Threadbear by Mick Inkpen

Threadbear by Mick Inkpen
Buy Threadbear by Mick Inkpen at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
Category: For Sharing
Reviewer: Tony Taylor
Summary: A timeless festive-classic. Threadbear will remind everyone of their special teddy and will provide warm smiles all around. Fantastic fold-out pages add extra magic.
Buy? Yes	Borrow? Yes
Pages: 32	Date: September 2016
Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
External links: Author's website
ISBN: 978-1444924053
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We have all had a special teddy, the teddy which is not perfect, the one that would never be classed as beautiful but the one that is loved more than any other. Threadbear is that very teddy. The man who made him put so much stuffing in him that his arms and legs were too hard. Sadly, because of all the extra stuffing, the squeaker in his stomach has never squeaked. Not once. Ever. Threadbear feels he is letting his Ben down, so he embarks on a mission to fix his squeaker. He tries and tries but fails, until he decides that there is one special person he must meet and maybe this will be the only person who can fix his squeaker.

Originally published in 1990, Threadbear is a classic children's story and I do mean classic. This book will delight children today just as it first did 26 years ago. Children love a story about a teddy bear and particularly one who looks like Threadbear: two different eyes, patches on his arms and additional stitching around his joints. Add a little festive sparkle and this book is a real winner. If that is not enough, the book is beautifully produced with fold-out pages, a sheer delight for children. I read this to both my children (aged 4 and 7) and they both loved the story and thought the fold-out parts were brilliant – the unexpectedness of these parts gives the book a really special feel. Produced by Hodder Childern's Books, Threadbear is a quality book with thick durable pages. It will last the many times children will be pulling the fold-out pages – they won't fall out on the first reading.

The illustrations play a significant part in the story. They are simple and eye-catching and will easily support discussions on empathy regarding Threadbear's emotions throughout the story. This is a perfect story for cuddling up at bedtime on a winter evening. Very highly recommended.

When discussing children's authors everyone will mention Julia Donaldson, Michael Morpurgo or Roald Dahl and I think Mick Inkpen needs to be mentioned within this list. His books are simply timeless and this will be a family favourite and one to be savoured. His other books include a series based on Kipper the dog and The Blue Balloon, with its creative fold-outs, is fantastic.

For further reading, I would suggest another classic by Mick Inkpen Kipper by Mick Inkpen. Thank you to the publishers for sending a review copy to The Bookbag. For another of Mick Inkpen's bears, we can recommend Baggy Brown.

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You can read more book reviews or buy Threadbear by Mick Inkpen at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy Threadbear by Mick Inkpen at Amazon.com.

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