This is one of my favourite Christmas books so far this year, lovely story, delightful illustrations and captures the festive spirit excellently.
Paddington takes the Brown family to Barkridges department store to meet, as he says, 'Mr Claus' and to take a ride through Winter Wonderland. And Paddington wants to ask Mr Claus where he makes his marmalade, as that is Paddington's favourite.
But for one reason or another things don't turn out as Paddington or the Browns expect. Firstly the store is almost empty with no atmosphere, the manager then queries Paddington's credentials, Paddington is disenchanted with the sleigh ride, 'I think I prefer Mrs Bird's window box,' he exclaims, and then, after finding fault with the lighthouse at the North Pole - its lights kept flashing -, he goes missing.
Eventually he is found, having been investigating the faulty lights on the lighthouse but whatever he had done, the result is that all the lights in the store go out! The manager is far from pleased and looks for Paddington to chastise him. But the Browns smuggle him away to escape the wrath of the manager.
Next morning it is headlines in the newspapers about a mystery bear being in the store and causing problems.'Crowds Flock to Santa's Workshop' screams one headline. So while the Browns are finishing breakfast Mrs Bird sneaks away to make a telephone call; she is obviously aware of what a bit of good publicity can do!
The next thing we know is that Paddington is being feted by the store manager, who tells Paddington that since the episode with the lights there have been queues all round the block to see the Christmas display and also to see the mystery bear. 'It's just like old times,' he declares. And he tells Paddington that after a free sleigh ride Santa wants to see him.
And when Paddington meets Santa there is a special present for him ... I wonder if you can guess what it was? The clue is that Paddington knew very well that Mr Claus made his own!
A lovely book and very Christmassy!