Gentleman Bear

by William Pène du Bois

Sir Billy Browne-Browne shares his life with his teddy bear, Bayard Bear, who accompanies him to boarding school, the 1936 Olympics, and on dangerous missions for the RAF in World War II

Genres: Fiction, Childrens, Historical Fiction

80 pages, Hardcover

First published July 18, 1984

About the author

William Pène du Bois was an American writer and illustrator of books for young readers. He is best known for The Twenty-One Balloons, published in April 1947 by Viking Press, for which he won the 1948 Newbery Medal. As illustrator he was twice a runner-up for the Caldecott Medal.

The Twenty-One Balloons is the work by Pène du Bois that WorldCat reports most widely held in participating libraries, by a wide margin. His other most widely held works are five books written by others, which he illustrated (below), and the two Caldecott Honor picture books, which he also wrote.

From 1953 to 1960, Pène du Bois was art editor of The Paris Review, working alongside founder and editor George Plimpton.

Reviews

[Lars Guthrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What's not to like? ...It's deliciously unknown...it's by William Pene DuBois...it's the biography of a taciturn, yet hardly stern, member of the House of Lords, who has proudly owned a teddy bear named Bayard since childhood. Highly recommended, if you can find it.

[Robin · Rating 1 out of 5]

As much as I love 20th-century children's stories, this one is tough to get through. Detailing the life of a Billy Browne-Browne and his companion bear, Bayard. Beginning with the courtship of his parents through Olympic fame, marriage, RAF missions, a kidnapping, and into old age they have adventures which were told in a dry and unengaging manner 😔

[Ann Pierson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just noticed that the picture of this book was provided by my mother, collector and rare children’s book dealer Bee Thorpe. du Bois is one of the best children’s book authors ever, and so of course I got to know his books very early. This one is the usual gem, but I’m not sure if it’s truly a children’s book. It will certainly entertain any adult reading it aloud to their child.

[Rachell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, this is a picture book, but with great characters, thrills, etc. The story chronicles (with illustrations) Lord Billy Browne-Browne's decades-long relationship with his companion, Bayard the Bear. Along the way we meet his eccentric English aristocrat family, his tennis star wife, see him serve in the RAF, and finally become a family man and representative in the House of Lords. I am somewhat embarrassed to say that until recently, I thought Lord Billy was an actual historical person. Apparently there really *was* a craze for young men to carry around teddy bears, a la Brideshead Revisited.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great historical fiction book for children in which an eccentric Englishman and his teddy bear participate in the Berlin Olympics, are heros in WW II and sit in the House of Lords among other things. Billy Browne-Browne and his bear, Bayard, are a delightful pair.

[W.H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read to my grandbabies after i bought it for 10 cents at the library....

[Tom Brainerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just, again read this delightful children's book by du Bois (also author of The Three Policemen). It was one of my favorites to read to my own children.

Can't read theology all the time.