What is The History Behind The Teddy Bear?
Look in the children's section in any library almost anywhere in the world, and one thing is for certain - the "Teddy Bear" is a popular enduring symbol of love, caring and all those touchy-feely emotions about family, friends, loyalty, and belonging. There are hundreds - thousands even - of books where the main character is a Teddy Bear. Songs have been written about them. Films have been made featuring them. We give Teddy Bears to our children. We keep some for ourselves. The Teddy Bear is a popular gift for Valentines, Birthdays and Christmases. We are obsessed with bears! But where did it all start?
Well, in a nutshell, it all started with a president - Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt. He was on a hunting trip in 1902 in the Mississippi area. Some guides on the trip wanted him to kill a bear, who they had trapped and tied to a tree. The president showed compassion and declined. Although the bear was dispatched, the story of the president's kindness quickly spread, and a famous political cartoonist depicted the incident in a newspaper cartoon.
Shortly afterwards, a shopkeeper, Morris Michtom, made a toy bear and displayed the bear in his shop window in Brooklyn. He named the bear after The President.
Far across the globe, at around the same time, the Steiff family, in Germany, also started to make bears, and they went on to manufacture the bears in 1906. These bears are collectible today, and famous all over the world.
One of the early Children's Bear Book Series in America was written by author Seymour Eaton. I stumbled upon him just recently after writing the first three books of The Snugs Series.
Imagine my delight, when I discovered that Eaton's bears were also bears who liked to travel and go on adventures! I like to think that Snugs The Snow Bear, my Children's Book, will carry on this spirit of adventure, and combine traditional values with a modern message!
So what is it that makes bears so endearing? A bear toy or a bear book is not just for special occasions. It seems that when we take a bear into our hearts, he or she is our constant faithful friend. He or she is a good listener, and good for a cuddle. Rupert Bear, Paddington Bear, there are all kinds of bears we still adore into adulthood. Now, what does a bear mean to you?
Well, in a nutshell, it all started with a president - Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt. He was on a hunting trip in 1902 in the Mississippi area. Some guides on the trip wanted him to kill a bear, who they had trapped and tied to a tree. The president showed compassion and declined. Although the bear was dispatched, the story of the president's kindness quickly spread, and a famous political cartoonist depicted the incident in a newspaper cartoon.
Shortly afterwards, a shopkeeper, Morris Michtom, made a toy bear and displayed the bear in his shop window in Brooklyn. He named the bear after The President.
Far across the globe, at around the same time, the Steiff family, in Germany, also started to make bears, and they went on to manufacture the bears in 1906. These bears are collectible today, and famous all over the world.
One of the early Children's Bear Book Series in America was written by author Seymour Eaton. I stumbled upon him just recently after writing the first three books of The Snugs Series.
Imagine my delight, when I discovered that Eaton's bears were also bears who liked to travel and go on adventures! I like to think that Snugs The Snow Bear, my Children's Book, will carry on this spirit of adventure, and combine traditional values with a modern message!
So what is it that makes bears so endearing? A bear toy or a bear book is not just for special occasions. It seems that when we take a bear into our hearts, he or she is our constant faithful friend. He or she is a good listener, and good for a cuddle. Rupert Bear, Paddington Bear, there are all kinds of bears we still adore into adulthood. Now, what does a bear mean to you?
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