Paddington Here and Now
by Michael Bond (HarperCollins, 2010); audiobook read by Stephen Fry (Oakhill, 2012)
Fifty-plus years from his first appearance, Paddington Bear remains a chaotic force of nature, his innocence, ignorance and polite, good-natured optimism giving rise to all manner of comic misunderstandings. Stephen Fry voices the characters beautifully. Paddington, it seems, will never grow old.
A Bear Called Paddington
by Michael Bond (Houghton Mifflin, 1958)
audiobook read by Stephen Fry (Harper, 2005)
Paddington Bear seems destined to remain a perennial children’s favourite, his surroundings now dated somewhat but his mishap-inducing unfamiliarity with them never growing old. Stephen Fry, who was conceived at much the same time as Paddington, gives perfect voice to the stories.
Paddington
directed by Paul King (2014)
The story of Paddington Bear’s arrival in London is perfectly pitched to keep both adults and children delighted without pitting them against each other in Mutually Assured Distraction. Michael Bond’s vision is faithfully upheld in this waggishly modern yet poignantly quaint reimagining.