The Legend of the Teddy Bear

by Frank Murphy and Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen

Book Overview

While nearly everyone has a memory of their own favorite tattered teddy bear, the details of the day President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt refused to shoot a bear have been lost to time. Now, nearly 100 years later, the legend that has grown around that fateful encounter will captivate you in this delightful tale. Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen brings his magical touch to another great American legend with illustrations for the origins of America's favorite stuffed animal and how it got its name. Author Frank Murphy shares the history and lucky timing of two candy store entrepreneurs who took the story of President Theodore Roosevelt's warmhearted gesture in refusing to shoot a cornered bear and turned it into a legend of the toy world. Relive the memory of your own timeless, tattered "Teddy's" bear with The Legend of the Teddy Bear.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1585360139
• ISBN13: 9781585360130
• Release Date: August 2000
• Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 1.16 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 11.0" x 11.0"
• Age Range: 5 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

Priceless Response

I didn't read the book. I gave it as a birthday gift to my niece who is a teddy bear enthusiast. The rating I gave was based upon her overwhelming response to the book. She was so taken with the story that she excitedly wrote a letter to the author. To his credit, the author responded with a handwritten letter that, along with the book, became a show-and-tell project for her 2nd grade class. She talks about the whole thing with stars in her eyes. It's truly priceless.I give 5 stars to both the book and the author.

A Must Have Book

The Legend of the Teddy Bear is a "must have" book for every home. It's a beautifully illustrated story that all children will enjoy while actually learning a piece of history. Imagine a child in your life explaining the story to an adult who doesn't know how the teddy bear got his name! This book belongs on all bookshelves, it will captivate children and adults alike. Looking forward to reading more from Frank Murphy!

So well illustrated

This is such a well written book and illustrated so beautifully. Not only is it a nice book for youngsters but a good history book for adults. How many people actually knew why it is called the "Teddy" bear? Now the whole world will know.

A Little Piece of History that reads like fiction

This treasure of a book is a perfect resource for parents, grandparents and anybody who spends time with children. It tells an important story about a fun subject- teddy bears. But, best of all, its written like fiction- its easy to read to kids -and the pictures are fabulous. In a parent's world, there are few children's books that should be considered the next generation of classics. This book is one of the them.

An Instant Classic

What a wonderfully-written and beautifulli-illustrated book! Mr. Murphy and his illustrator have combined to create what I'm sure will become a perennial bestseller! I've already given 5 copies to nieces and nephews!