Review

Rating: 7

I found “The Teddy Bear Catalog” at the Roces branch of A Different Bookstore last December after our office’s Christmas lunch. At a bargain price of P28, I thought it’s worth buying this old, previously owned book just for the pictures.

“The Teddy Bear Catalog,” is a beginner’s guide for teddy bear collectors. Published in the early 1980s, it tells the history of teddy bears. The book started with how US President Theodore Roosevelt–whose life will soon be portrayed in a movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio–refused to shoot a captive bear, and how this act was immortalized in the newspapers and with the creation of a stuffed toy named after the president.

If there is a Teddy Bear 101 course, “The Teddy Bear Catalog” would be its required text book. Most of the pages of the book contain photos of old teddy bears and its estimated value–which are of course in 1980s prices. The book also guides reader on the cleaning and repair of old teddy bears and provides tips on where to find this favorite toy. It has an extensive directory of mostly US-based manufacturers, sellers, and teddy bear clubs. Most of these information however are no longer useful as they are these have been collected more than 20 years ago.

The previous owner of the book scribbled the word “cute” beside each teddy bear she liked, and this became some sort of a joke in the office. Whenever we see teddy bears, my officemates and I would say “Cute!” Mhay and I also enjoyed looking at the pictures and selecting our own “cute” teddies.

“The Teddy Bear Catalog” is for the young at heart, as well as for those who just want to learn additional information about children’s favorite toy.