Friday 28 January 2011

Baggy Brown













Mick (Wibbly Pig, Spot) Inkpen has produced some of the best loved children's books of the last decade or so. With his characters making the leap to the small screen, it's nice to hunt out some of his less well known books for a quick look. 

Baggy Brown tells the story of a rather special teddy bear, number 1 of a limited edition set of bears. Number 1 is special, as he was made for a royal Princess but after a series of accidents he ends up not in royal hands, but the arms of a very ordinary boy. 

Wrapped around the tale of Baggy's adventures is a superb side story but I won't spoil it for you, it's worth grabbing the book and leafing through yourself to see how much emotion and storytelling can be constructed around a fairly simple tale of a bear. 

If you think you're all burned out on bear books, think again. 


Charlotte's best bit: Seeing the princess's tonsils when she's screaming the castle down

Daddy's favourite bit: Some great expressive work by Inkpen for the human characters in the story. 


Rating: 4 out of 5