Ages 4^-6. Visiting London's "Little Venice" carnival with Mr. Gruber, Paddington Bear decides to enter a contest by listing everything he sees that begins with the letter B. Each turn of the page brings a new scene showing Paddington exploring the area and writing down things that start with B. A boy surreptitiously follows the bear and Mr. Gruber, spying on them and adding objects to his own contest list. This sneaky character adds a welcome bit of intrigue to the pictures as well as to the plot. Alley's detailed ink-and-watercolor-wash illustrations make the most of the low-key plot and offer plenty of affable characters and intriguing details. Teachers and parents will appreciate the practice on the letter B, but young children will enjoy just hanging out with Paddington for the space of this pleasant picture book. Carolyn Phelan

PreS-Gr 2‘Paddington is overwhelmed by the choices of activities at the Spring Carnival so his friend Mr. Gruber suggests the Busy Bee Adventure Trail, the object being to find as many things as possible that begin with the letter B. The bear gets right to business, but readers will see that trouble is already brewing. A young boy trailing the two is copying their list. Not surprisingly, when it's time to judge the contest there's a tie. The problem is solved when the bear finds another B, the most important one of all. Emerging readers and their parents will have the makings of a new game after they see the relish with which it's played here. Children will enjoy Bond's dry humor that will make them feel the wiser. Alley's watercolor-and-ink illustrations capture the soft colors of the spring day and the crowd's happy sense of anticipation, with deft touches that remind readers that this is not just any city, but Paddington's London.‘Lisa S. Murphy, formerly at Dauphin County Library System, Harrisburg, PA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Paddington Bear and his friend Mr. Gruber go to a local carnival where Paddington enters a contest to find the most things that begin with the letter 'B'. After a long walk in which he discovers such things as a beard, a buckle, boots, and a basket, Paddington is declared the winner. The slight story has essentially no tension or character development but is animated by busy, cheerful watercolors. From HORN BOOK Fall 1998, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.