The Bear Nobody Wanted

The bear in the story, 'our bear', has an unatractive demeanour and as a result, remains nameless right until the penultimate page of this splendid book for it's only then that he becomes 'wanted'. The story traces the bear's somewhat degrading passage through life from the factory where he was made just before World War Two, as he passed from one owner to another until he's finally given to 4-year-old Sophie and becomes the happiest of toys: 'an altogether wanted bear'. As well as being a compelling read, Allan Ahlberg's story is a marvellous history lesson for, woven into the narrative, are details of domestic life in the early 1940s. This strong sense of time is furthered by Janet Ahlberg's beguiling line drawings. A thoroughly enjoyable and potentially rewarding read for anyone aged around eight or for slightly younger listeners.