Red Ted and the Lost Things

by Michael Rosen, Joel Stewart (Illustrator)

With bravery, teamwork, and lots of common sense, a forgotten bear finds his way home in this warm, wise, and very funny graphic storybook.

One day, a little bear named Red Ted is accidentally left on the seat of a train. When he winds up on a high shelf in the place for lost things, he doesn’t despair — he puts his mind to work! With the help of new friends and the use of all their senses (including a certain fondness for cheese), Ted and pals are determined to find their way back to the little girl who loves and misses him. Author Michael Rosen and illustrator Joel Stewart offer a sweet graphic storybook about pluck, persistence, and the pure comfort of home.

Genres: Picture Books, Graphic Novels, Childrens, Friendship, Fantasy, Cats, Animals

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Michael Rosen, a recent British Children’s Laureate, has written many acclaimed books for children, including WE'RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, and I’M NUMBER ONE and THIS IS OUR HOUSE, both illustrated by Bob Graham. Michael Rosen lives in London.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Ms. B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Red Ted becomes a lost thing when Stevie leaves him behind With the help of Crocodile who is also a lost thing and a cat who likes cheese, will Red Ted find Stevie again? This is a sweet and quiet story about positive thinking.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Ted is left behind, he escapes the lost and found to find his way home to his beloved Stevie . . . all with the help of some newfound friends.

A lovely story, with beautiful illustrations.
I liked the graphic novel format.

Quite a sweet story with a few chuckles along the way.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Red Ted and the Lost Things / Michael Rosen / 2009
Genre: fiction
Format: picture book

Plot Summary: When a teddy bear is accidentally left on the seat of a train, he uses his ingenuity--and some new friends--to search for the little girl who lost him.

Considerations: none

Review Citation:
School Library Journal, vol 55, issue 11
"His use of panels, which effectively further the action, vary from one to six per page and provide a quiet but effective pace...The plucky and determined RedTed deserves a place among the many lost-toys books on library shelves."

Selection Source: School Library Journal
Recommended age: 3-6

[Nielson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written in comic book style, this book is about Red Ted, a teddy bear who gets lost from his owner. Put on a shelf with other "lost" items, he decides that he must go and find Stevie (his owner). Crocodile, another lost item, goes with him on this crazy adventure through the city. On the way, they meet Cat who is willing to help, but only because there is cheese involved! All is well when in the end they find Stevie and the cheese! The illustrations are so unique and highlight all of the right details in the story.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Red Ted got left behind on the train when Stevie went to visit her nana. Crocodile offers to help Red Ted find his way back home and then a cat, who loves cheese, joins them in their search for Red Ted's house.

Red Ted is determined not to give up and Crocodile is always ready to turn around. Then, the cat is weird. She is illustrated differently because she isn't a stuffed animal and she is a strange combination of wise and silly.

Simple speech bubbles with short, repetitive text make this a good read for ELLs.

[Vivian Romero · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ahhh the myriad of stories attached to THINGS LEFT BEHIND. Everyone and every scent has stories. Red Ted is mistakenly abandoned at a train station and initiates his gumption to find his way home to his beloved Stevie. He befriends pessimistic Crocodile. Together, they navigate their way from the vaults of the lost and found, through the tunnels of the train station and onto the business of the streets. A great introduction to graphic novels, Stewart provides monochromatic panels punctuated by the vibrancy of the main characters, Red Ted, Crocodille and Cat.

[Tom Garrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are beautiful, and the tale follows 'Red Ted' who has been lost and makes some friends along his challenging journey home. He meets 'Crocodile' who proves to be a worthy friend in their meeting with an aggressive dog, as well as a friendly cat who guides them home with her love of cheese.
The story may be a little unoriginal but there is a great rhyme that younger years children would fine joy in joining in with. Additionally, there is lots to discuss with children here about how the characters feel including their meeting with the dog.
Suitable for Foundation/Yr 1

[Lindi · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Red Ted gets left on a train, Crocodile (another lost toy) is helpful but pessimistic about whether Red Ted can get home. This does not dissuade our hero from trying, however.

A beautiful marriage of words and pictures, a satisfying story about finding your way home, and a magical reminder that bravery inspires more bravery. Thank you to Kitri for a couple great picture book recommendations this past week!

[MissInformation · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of a lost toy, but with a slightly odd and very charming way about it. Ted is determined to get back home, despite the pessimism of a lost crocodile that he befriends.

After some adventures, there is an interesting exchange where the thoughts of the bear and the crocodile transfer to the little girl.

[Teresa Garrett · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one of the few books I did not care for very much. The story line is hard to believe and the illustrations are very busy but kind of washed out. The comic book style speech bubbles will make this a hard read aloud. I will reserve final judgement until the students read and give me their opinions.

[Gwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a picture book told in graphic novel format. Very cute story about making friends and having adventures. I absolutely LOVED the illustrations... subdued watercolors with a bright Red Ted, a bright green Crocodile, and a pretty blue kitty. I think this also helps create that graphic novel feel.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this little book! Perfect for preschoolers, it's written in a graphic novel style and tells the story of a little bear who gets lost on the train and is turned into the lost and found. He befriends an alligator and finds his way back to his owner. It's a nice combination of illustration and narrative.

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Red Ted is a little bear that was accidentally left on the train. He ends up in a huge room with all the other lost things. He befriends a stuffed crocodile and together they set out to find Stevie, Red Ted's little girl.

Engaging illustrations. Love how the characters in the story are colored brighter than the background to really make them stand out.

[Sam Bloom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic crossover picture book/graphic novel with a very Toy Story-esque plot. I truly respect and love pretty much everything Michael Rosen has done, but it's really Joel Stewart's illustrations that are the main attraction here. Awesome.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice, gentle story about lost toys on the train going in search of their owners. I loved the watered out illustrations combined with the vivid colors of the toys. The same effect is used well with the dialogue too.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Graphic-comic-picture book with a very gentle plot. Red Ted, a very brave stuffed bear, is left behind on the train and is put in the room for lost things. He meets Crocodile, and together they set off to find their way home.

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A graphic storybook (don't see many of these) about a lost toy bear who sets off to find his owner. The characters are set against a monochrome background, which highlights the isolation they feel. A heart-breaker and a heart-warmer.

[Deborah]

Sweet story, and sepia-toned illustrations with selected spots of color — love this.

[Arapahoe Libraries · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very sweet story about a lost teddy bear. I love the brightly colored bear and crocodile set against the dullish grey (but fascinating) background.

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

graphic novel picture book-style. characters are lovable and the end is oh-so-sweet.

[Christine Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a teddy bear is accidentally left on the seat of a train, he uses his ingenuity--and some new friends--to search for the little girl who lost him. www.hcpl.net

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely children's book about what it is like to be lost and found as told from the perspective of a teddy bear, my girls like it :)

[Katie Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet graphic novel about Red Ted, a little teddy bear who gets lost on a train. Ted joins forces with Crocodile and a stray cat to try to rejoin his owner.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes I know I'm going to sound like a crazy cat lady. But the song "I'm a cat, and I do as I please. I'm a cat, and I love cheese!" reminds me so much of my furry little sister.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

This reminds me a lot of Corduroy. The best part about it is the little song about cheese.

[Katharine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, but a bit dull, and improbable series of events (the cat smells cheese on the bear, therefore knows where his home is?)

[Christi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of lost toys, friendship and getting home. The illustrations are beautiful with a muted background and bright colors for the characters.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the story love the illustrations love everything about this book. So simple yet so amazing! :)

[Mary Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many connections to books about toys that are lost, toys that are alive and can be hard talking...but only to the children, journeys...fun book!

[Kathy Ellen Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so sweet!
How can you not feel for a lost bear?
I love the illustrations too; how they are the only ones in color.
Simple story and so cute.
Great book!