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    Paddington Abroad
    Paddington Abroad
    Paddington Abroad
    Ebook125 pages1 hour

    Paddington Abroad

    By Michael Bond and Peggy Fortnum

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    About this ebook

    When the Browns go on holiday to France, Paddington is put in charge of the "eyetinnery." But even with the whole trip planned down to the last marmalade sandwich, somehow Paddington takes the family off the beaten path on a voyage no one could forget. With Paddington in charge, one should always plan on a little bit of adventure!

    First published in 1961, Paddington Abroad is the fourth novel by Michael Bond chronicling the adventures of this classic character. Paddington has warmed the hearts of generations of readers with his earnest good intentions and humorous misadventures. This brand-new edition of the classic novel contains the original text by Michael Bond and illustrations by Peggy Fortnum.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateNov 24, 2015
    ISBN9780062312235
    Author

    Michael Bond

    Michael Bond began chronicling Paddington’s adventures in his first book, A Bear Called Paddington, published in 1958. Fortunately, bears don’t need much encouragement, and Paddington has since filled the pages of twelve further novels, a variety of picture books, and many other projects written for the young at heart.

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    • 4/5
      Paddington's adventures continue, with one subtle difference. After three books of Paddington misunderstanding the basic day-to-day life of post-war Britain, most of this book is taken up with the Browns' holiday in France. For the first time, the child reader misses out on much of the vicarious pleasure of being "ahead" of Paddington, and Michael Bond seems to try and compensate by making his little calamities overly simplistic and even stereotyped. It's all as gentle and sweet as usual but somehow less fun. The best story by far is "A Visit to the Bank," a wholly London-based pile-up comedy of errors in which Paddington empties his savings account only to discover that all his nice polished coinage has been "replaced," and interest on one pound, three shillings and sixpence simply isn't very interesting!
    • 4/5
      I loved the Paddington stories as a child, even though, by the time I was introduced to them in the early 1970s, they were probably already a bit out of date. Indeed, I imagine that they were already rather dated even when they were first published – that is one aspect of their charm. Another is the fact that, unlike the recent films (highly entertaining though they are), all the mishaps and adventures that befall Paddington arise from everyday activities. The normality of the context serves to accentuate the humour and delight of the stories.I first read Paddington Abroad nearly fifty years ago, at a time when I myself had never been abroad. I was, therefore, utterly intrigued with the accounts of Paddington’s preparations for his first foreign holiday with the Brow family, and enchanted by his adventures once he arrives in France. Now, nearly fifty years later and reading it to my great niece, that enchantment remains intact. The stories work just as well now, and my great niece was as delighted with this book as I had been.Michael Bond’s trick is to write with great simplicity, and he never patronises the reader, of whatever age. His humour works on to levels, delighting his child readers at the most direct level, but also appeals to parents (and great uncles). Paddington has an occasionally alarming honesty, which, supported by his disarming ‘hard stare’, enables him to cut through facades.In this volume, some of the highlights include Paddington causing consternation at his bank when he attempts to withdraw some money for the holiday, falling foul of passport control, playing the big bass drum in a parade through a French village, and finally even participating in the Tour de France. All very funny and marvellously handled.

    Book preview

    Paddington Abroad - Michael Bond

    CONTENTS

    1. Paddington Prepares

    2. A Visit to the Bank

    3. Trouble at the Airport

    4. Paddington Saves the Day

    5. Paddington and the Pardon

    6. A Spot of Fishing

    7. Paddington Takes to the Road

    Excerpt from Paddington at Large

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    Books by Michael Bond

    Credits

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    About the Publisher

    Chapter One

    PADDINGTON PREPARES

    Paddington was in a mess. As he was the sort of bear who often got himself into trouble, he wasn’t really surprised—but as he stood up and looked round his bedroom, even he had to admit that it was worse than usual.

    There were maps and pieces of paper everywhere, not to mention several nasty-looking marmalade stains and a long trail of paw prints. The paw prints started on a map which was spread across the eiderdown on his bed. It was a large map of London, and in the middle, by the first paw mark, there was a circle which marked the position of the Browns’ house at Number thirty-two Windsor Gardens.

    The trail led from the Browns’ house across the map in a southerly direction, over the end of the bed, and on to another map which lay on the floor at the foot. From there it carried on, still going south, until it reached the English Channel and yet a third map by the window which showed the north coast of France. There the trail ended in a soggy mess made up of old cake crumbs, a small pile of marmalade, and a blob of red ink.

    Paddington gave a deep sigh as he dipped his paw absentmindedly into the concoction. He tried kneeling on the floor and peering at his room through half-closed eyes, but if anything, the mess looked even worse because, from so low down, all he could see were the bumps and ridges.

    Just as he was about to lie back and consider the matter, he was suddenly brought back to life by the sound of clinking plates and footsteps on the stairs.

    Jumping up with a guilty expression on his face, Paddington hurriedly began sweeping everything under the bed. Although he had some very good explanations for the mess he was in, he felt sure neither Mrs. Brown nor Mrs. Bird would be very keen on hearing them—especially at breakfast time, when everyone was usually in a great hurry.

    Are you awake, Paddington? called Mrs. Brown as she knocked on the door.

    No—not yet, Mrs. Brown, cried Paddington in a muffled voice as he tried to push his marmalade jar under the wardrobe. I think my lids are stuck.

    Being a truthful bear at heart, Paddington closed his eyelids and snored several times while he gathered up the rest of his belongings. Feeling around for the pen and ink, he hastily put them into his old hat, which he pulled down over his head; and then, gathering up the last of the maps, he groped his way across the room.

    Whatever’s going on, Paddington? exclaimed Mrs. Brown as the door suddenly opened and Paddington appeared.

    Paddington nearly fell over backwards with surprise when he saw Mrs. Brown standing there with his breakfast tray.

    I thought you were a cupboard, Mrs. Brown, he exclaimed as he hurriedly put a pawful of maps behind him and backed towards the bed. I must have gone the wrong way by mistake.

    I should think you did, said Mrs. Brown as she followed him into the room. I’ve never heard so much banging and crashing.

    Mrs. Brown looked suspiciously round the room, but everything appeared to be in its place, so she turned her attention back to Paddington, who was now sitting up in bed with a very odd expression on his face.

    Are you sure you’re all right? she asked anxiously as she placed the tray in front of him. For one nasty moment, Mrs. Brown thought she saw a trickle of red running down Paddington’s left ear, but before she could look into the matter, he had pulled his old hat even farther down over his head. All the same, she didn’t like the look of it at all, and she hesitated at the door in case something was wrong.

    Paddington, in his turn, rather wished Mrs. Brown would hurry up and go. In his haste to clear up the mess, he had forgotten to put the stopper back on the bottle of ink, and the top of his head was beginning to feel quite soggy.

    Mrs. Brown sighed as she closed the door. She knew from past experience that it was hopeless trying to get an explanation out of Paddington when he was in one of his difficult moods.

    If you ask me, said Mrs. Bird when Mrs. Brown joined her in the kitchen and told her all about Paddington’s strange behavior, "that young bear isn’t the only one in this house who’s acting in a funny manner. It’s all to do with you know what!"

    With that Mrs. Brown had to agree. Things had been very much upside down in the Brown household ever since the previous evening.

    It had all started when Mr. Brown arrived home carrying a large pile of maps and brightly colored pamphlets, and announced that he was taking them to France for their summer holiday.

    In a matter of moments, the normal peace and quiet of Number thirty-two Windsor Gardens had disappeared completely, never to return.

    The holiday had been the one topic of conversation from dinnertime until last thing at night. Old beach balls and bathing costumes had been searched for in disused cupboards, plans had been discussed, and Mrs. Bird had already begun washing and ironing a small mountain of clothes, ready for the big day.

    Paddington in particular had been most excited at the news. Since he had been a member of the Brown family they had taken him on a number of day trips which he had enjoyed no end, but he had never before been away for a real holiday, and he was looking forward to it. To add to his excitement Mr. Brown, in a generous moment, had put him in charge of all the maps and a thing called an itinerary.

    At first Paddington hadn’t been at all sure about being in charge of anything which sounded so important as an itinerary, but after Judy had explained to him that it was simply a list of all the places they would visit and the things they would do, he had quickly changed his mind. Paddington was keen on lists, and a doings list sounded most interesting.

    Mind you, said Mrs. Bird darkly as she discussed the matter with Mrs. Brown over the washing up, if that young bear’s going to be in charge of the maps, we shall need all of a fortnight. It’s asking for trouble. There’s no knowing where we might end up.

    Mrs. Brown sighed again. Oh, well, she said, turning her attention to other things, at least it keeps him happy. You know how keen he is on writing things.

    H’mm! said Mrs. Bird. "It’ll be all over

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