Teddy: The Remarkable Tale of a President, a Cartoonist, a Toymaker and a Bear

by James Sage, Lisk Feng

Overview

A delightful tale of the first-ever teddy bear. The story goes that on a hunting trip in 1902, President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt refused to shoot a bear. A political cartoonist shared the story in the newspaper and then, impressed by the president’s big, warm heart, shopkeepers Rosie and Morris Michtom decided to create a “Teddy” bear in his honor to sell in their store. The bear was so popular, they made another. And another. And before they knew it, they needed to build a factory: it seemed every child wanted a teddy bear of their own! History with a twist of fun! Now there’s even more to love about the ever-popular toy!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781525303043
Publisher:	Kids Can Press
Publication date:	05/07/2019
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	55 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

James Sage is the author of over a dozen books for children, including Old Misery, Stop Feedin' da Boids!, Fat Cat and Mr. Beast. James is an American who has lived and traveled in many parts of the world, and now lives in Lincolnshire in the UK.

Lisk Feng is an award-winning illustrator of Everest and A Hug Is for Holding Me. Originally from China, she now works as a freelance illustrator in New York City.

Editorial Reviews

A heartwarming story ...—Kirkus Reviews

A wonderful choice for a read-aloud.—School Library Journal

Readers young and old will be interested to learn this story and to learn of the various identities influential in the creation of the beloved childhood toys.—CM Magazine

... a great choice for story time.—School Library Connection

From the Publisher

04/01/2019

PreS-Gr 2—Sage uses a mix of mainly fact and a bit of speculation to explain how teddy bears got their name and became such a popular toy. President Theodore Roosevelt, also referred to as Teddy or T.R., went hunting during a stay in Missouri, but was unable to shoot a bear. His hosts then found a cub, tied it to a tree, and encouraged him to take a shot. Feeling that it was not sportsmanlike, he declined. At this very time, the editor-in-chief of the Washington Post asked cartoonist Clifford Berryman to create a cartoon that would touch the heart and speak to everyone, and have it ready for the very next day. When a coffee boy told Berryman the story of T.R. that had just come over the newswire, Berryman stayed up creating a cartoon of a caring T.R. refusing to shoot the bear. The rest, as they say, is history. When Mr. and Mrs. Michtom, candy store owners in Brooklyn, saw the cartoon, Mrs. Michtom created a toy bear that her husband placed in the store window with a sign that said: "Teddy's Bear." The toy became so popular, they opened a factory to keep up with the demand. This story is told simply and is accompanied by colorful illustrations that reflect a bygone era. An author's note explains which parts of the story are fiction, and includes a copy of Berryman's original cartoon, a photo of one of the first teddy bears, and a 1950 advertisement for the "original" style bear. VERDICT A wonderful choice for a read-aloud.—Myra Zarnowski, City University of New York

School Library Journal

2019-02-06

A fictionalized biography of "one of the most endearing companions of modern times."

On a trip to Mississippi, President Theodore Roosevelt went hunting, but the only bear he came across was "one scruffy, no-account cub," and the president certainly couldn't shoot it. "I'd never be able to look my children in the eyes again!" But even though T.R. didn't snag a bear, the newspapers got a story, and the Washington Post ran a Clifford Berryman cartoon that got the attention of Morris and Rose Michtom, who owned a little novelty shop in Brooklyn. To honor the president's "big warm heart," Mrs. Michtom created a bear sewn together out of scrap materials. She stuffed it with fine wood shavings, sewed on shoe buttons for eyes, and stitched a little black nose with darning thread. They placed "Teddy's Bear" in the shop window, and soon it seemed as if everyone in America was buying teddy bears. "I think the reason kids love teddy bears so much is that they're so darn cuddly," said Mr. Michtom. However, the digitally rendered illustrations of the bears make them seem more flat and untextured than cuddly. Otherwise, though, the match of cartoonish illustrations and clear text works well in creating a solid, upbeat account. The author's note mostly retells the story and discusses where "pleasant speculation" was blended with the factual record. Characters depicted all seem to be white.

A heartwarming story, if a bit short on cuddles. (Picture book. 5-9)

Kirkus Reviews