School Library Journal Review
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 © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
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) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
This true-life story opens with Teddy Roosevelt on a hunting expedition that became famous for the animal that wasn't killed. When accounts of Roosevelt's refusal to shoot the bear cub specifically procured for his presidential prerogative reached a newspaperman, the incident became a political cartoon seen far and wide, including in Brooklyn where a shopkeeping couple were inspired to create a toy version of the fortunate bear. With Teddy's blessing, the toy was given his name and their idea took off soon, a big factory was turning out stuffed bears of all kinds. This lightly fictionalized account of the creation of the universally beloved toy is recapped more straightforwardly in an author's note, although there are no sources cited. There are some historical photo credits, yet most of the illustrations depicting the early twentieth-century scenes are comprised of original digital art in gentle hues, reminiscent of Stephen Savage's artistic style and appropriately consistent with Feng's earlier work in A Hug Is for Holding Me (2018).--Andrew Medlar Copyright 2019 Booklist
