cover image Good Teddy

Good Teddy

Juliet Bawden. Barron's Educational Series, $0 (10pp) ISBN 978-0-8120-5833-8

In the first of these board books, Teddy finds himself caught in bushes, stung by a bee, sick with the measles, stuck with a toothache and drenched by the rain, among other disasters. The refrain ""Poor Teddy!'' follows each sentence about a new mishap. By the end, though, he's up and jogging. In Good Teddy, he irons, makes his bed, sweeps the floor, washes the windows, takes out the garbage and eventually enjoys what looks like a cup of coffee and a bit of a rest. A small stuffed bear stars in the colorful photographs, with props that will help keep Teddy's misfortunes and labors in perspective for readers: the measles look like red stick-on dots, and the iron is really a wooden toy. Without these props, such a bruised and slaving bear might be cause for alarm. The books are cute but uninspired; other titles in the series are My Teddy and Naughty Teddy. No ages given. (September)