Youth novel set in 1970s with object hidden inside a teddy bear (not Disney) Read late 1980s.

[MrsK]

I came across this book back in the late 80s, and it was a little bit advanced for me, but I read it anyways, and overall I enjoyed it, as the main character was a youth (tween maybe), and he lived in New York City, in a single-parent family. I believe that his mother worked quite a bit, so he was left to his own devices, so, he walked around his neighbourhood quite a bit. One of the local people was an adult who worked in a bodega (or similar) and he wore a fez hat. He was described as being slightly sketchy, but not enough for the boy to speak with him when he went past. At some point later in the story, the boy discovers that stolen goods were sewn into his teddy bear, and it was either a diamond/diamonds, or a package that could be assumed to be drugs (but due to it being a youth book, probably not). The man in the fez soon realizes that the boy has discovered the stolen goods, and tried to take back the teddy from the boy, and there is some chasing, and hiding etc. To my recollection there was a happy ending. Any help will be appreciated.

[Pamela]

The Teddy Bear Habit A few of the details are different, but I'm sure it's this book. I own a copy.

[Kris]

Google Books preview of The Teddy Bear Habit by James Lincoln Collier - Pamela's suggestion:

- https://www.google.com/books/edition/...
- There are different cover images.