Paddington at Work

Paddington #7

by Michael Bond

There hasn’t been a single disaster since Paddington came back from Peru. But he soon makes up for lost time. The Stock Exchange, the ballet, the barber’s shop, Mr Curry’s kitchen... nothing is safe when Paddington gets to work.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Classics, Fantasy, Animals, Audiobook, British Literature

160 pages, Paperback

First published March 3, 1966

About the author

Michael Bond, CBE was an English children's author. He was the creator of Paddington Bear and wrote about the adventures of a guinea pig named Olga da Polga, as well as the animated BBC TV series The Herbs. Bond also wrote culinary mystery stories for adults featuring Monsieur Pamplemousse and his faithful bloodhound, Pommes Frites.

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another hilarious Paddington book. I’m actually slightly concerned that I shouldn’t find these as laugh out loud funny as I do. I am, after all, a very mature adult... no, I couldn’t get to the end of that sentence with a straight face...

[Sheila Beaumont · Rating 5 out of 5]

This the seventh book in the series, and I'm still laughing as much as ever. In fact, this one may be the funniest of them all so far. It's hard to choose one favorite chapter, but if I had to, I'd say it's the final chapter, when Paddington performs in the ballet at Judy's school. Every chapter in this book is hilarious. Paddington is fun for all ages!

[Luisa Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another charming tale about Paddington and the Brown family!

Ages: 5+

Cleanliness: for goodness' sake, goodness gracious, Mercy, Gosh, and Crikey are used. Mentions a man smoking a pipe.

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[Deity World · Rating 4 out of 5]

The troubled bear is back a good selection of stories the hairdressers did remind me of Paddington 2 movie

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

The lovable bear from Darkest Peru tries his hand at being a barber, helps out his neighbour Mr Curry, and takes part in a ballet. Things don't always go to plan, but somehow it all works out well in the end. Especially if you're a bear called Paddington.

[Shiloah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful and charming.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

The image of Paddington participating in a ballet show is one that'll stay with me for a while.

[chucklesthescot · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Browns are relieved to hear that Paddington is on his way home from visiting his Aunt Lucy in Darkest Peru. They are so excited to see him that they decide to turn up on the ship for the last leg of their voyage to surprise him. Unfortunately, Paddington thinks that he is having hallucinations and has to visit the ship doctor. He also has anxiety about the possibility of not winning the journey time sweep and how you can unstick your paws! The poor bear arrives home to a run in with a heartless conman who robs him of all his savings and he is under investigation by the police who think he is the conman. It's all very hard for a good natured, well intentioned bear to deal with. I felt so bad for the wee guy.

Paddington decides that he needs more money and gets a job as an assistant at a barber shop. It is bad timing that the owner nips out for a coffee just as a pushy customer insists on Paddington giving him a trim. Hair clippers and paws really don't go well together! He goes to a ballet display ay Judy's school and chaos occurs when the professional dancer has a few diva issues and the schoolgirl who is to dance with him goes missing. Paddington is a game bear at the best of times but his decision to step in and do the dance hits a snap due to a mishap with tights! Paddington in tights doing ballet was a really funny story.

I couldn't wait to see what was happening in this book because of the cover. The sight of Paddington with a sledgehammer and a look of purpose on his face is a bad combination for Mr Curry. Who in their right mind lets Paddington loose in their house after telling him how you fancy having a hatch in your kitchen? It might also help if Paddington watched what he was doing and went to work on the right wall! This was my favourite story in the book by far and the illustrations are really funny!

Poor Paddington! He can't do right for wrong but he does mean well!

[Kate Howe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do adore Paddington so much!

[Mark]

Another collection of the (mis)adventures of Paddington Bear. This one starts with him returning from a visit back to Peru on a Cruise Liner when he is unexpectedly joined by the Brown family. He then gets involved with the cabaret act on board before returning home. Back home he is nearly fleeced by a fraudulent share dealer and then visits the Stock Exchange. Later he has a go at helping Mr Curry with some DIY work (which doesn't turn out as planned). He also tries his hand as a hairdresser and finally visits Judy's school and ends up taking part in a ballet performance.
As ever, a delightful collection of tales.

[Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paddington is still totally hilarious to me. I really will have to work my way through all these audio books, costs be damned. I am constantly finding myself cackling out loud in public; the people around me must think I've lost my marbles completely. My favourite in this book was the last story, Paddington Steps Out, where a certain young bear becomes entangled in a ballet performance.

[Joey · Rating 4 out of 5]

LOVE IT

[Jaslyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't laughed 'til my stomach ached in a WHILE. That was sorely needed and deeply appreciated.

[Keksisbaby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Er ist zurück aus dem Dunkelsten Peru und bereit das Leben der Browns und der Nachbarn auf den Kopf zu stellen. Insbesondere Mr. Curry bekommt das zu spüren, als Paddington ihm hilft eine Durchreiche einzubauen. Dummerweise in die falsche Wand. Aber auch sonst ist der kleine Bär nicht untätig. Ob er nun an die Börse geht um einen Aktienbetrüger durch Zufall zu schnappen oder sich als Friseurlehrling versucht. Nur keine Angst jedes Chaos, dass der kleine liebenswerte Bär anrichtet, wendet sich zu guter Letzt doch zum Guten.

Wieder ein Buch über Paddington und ich bin den kleinen Kerl noch nicht über. Natürlich weiß man schon dass sobald der Bär seine Pfoten ins Spiel bringt kleine Katastrophen vorprogrammiert sind, dennoch sind seine Eskapaden einfach nur putzig. Insbesondere wenn er sich am Toupierträger als Friseur versucht. Die Kapitel erzählen hier nicht mehr abgeschlossene Streiche sondern greifen ineinander über. Es wird auch mal rückblickend Bezug genommen auf vorherige Geschehnisse, was dem Ganzen einen erwachseneren Charakter verleiht. Auch wenn mir der Ausruf von Jonathan Brown „Crikey“ jedes Mal wenn Paddington was anstellt auf den Wecker fällt und das ist ganz schön oft.

Dennoch liebe ich diese Kinderbuchreihe und werde sie wohl auch mal meinen Kindern vorlesen, dann natürlich in der deutschen Übersetzung

[Illiterate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Picks up in the last couple of chapters. Don’t let a bear cut your hair; do take one to the ballet.

[Philip · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's two cracking stories in this - Paddington knocking a hole in the wrong wall of Mr Curry's house, and being sold a dodgy share by 'Jim the Dandy'. As funny as these two stories are, they're surrounded by a ones that are a bit more... rubbish. There's some set on a ship that don't go anywhere, there's a barber shop one (I only remember it because it was adapted in Paddington 2), I can't even remember the others.

Also, Bond has the tendency to wrap up stories so quickly with nice contrived happy endings, that you can easily miss the transition and not notice what has happened. Has anyone else found that? 3 stars.

[Leya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was wondering how Paddington was going to get himself out of the sticky situations he found himself in. Very funny stories. Him dancing ballet was quite hilarious.
As I read these stories am always wondering is Paddington the only animal that talks in this world.

[Fi's Journey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like I've said in previous Paddington Reviews - I really enjoy listening to his misadventures and all the things he gets into.
To me, the mundane things in these stories are what it makes it so "magical". Paddington is the one who makes the mundane, magical.

[John Bohnert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm definitely a Paddington fan. Today, I purchased a 16" Paddington.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

the last story where Paddington goes to the ballet should be required reading

[Elen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

[sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

my favorite story was the one where paddington went to the bank! what a darling bear!!

[Noah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very pleasant read which of course is a children’s book and correspondingly so. Paddington is a curious bear with a sincere and gentle heart who however often finds himself in trouble because of his excessive eagerness and lack of foresight when doing what he believes is right or helpful to others. The book explores the balance of curiosity, sincerity and discretion in an innocent perspective.

[Tiffany Spencer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paddington at Work
Plot: Paddington goes on a trip to Dark Peru to visit his aunt Lucy and gets a surprise on the ship from the Brown’s. He win’s 5 lbs (62 dollars) on a ship game and immediately when he gets home wants to take it to the bank after he buys the Brown’s presents. But instead he gives swindled by a fast-talking man that tries to get him to invest in a (fake) oil company. After trying to exchange his stock he gives the detectives a helpful tip that leads them to the crook Paddington gets his money back. While trying to help his friend Mr. Gruber fix his vase he decides to make some more income and tries to apply for a job at a barber shop only he winds up butchering a man’s toupee. But things turn around for him when the man turns out to be a collector and he directs him to Mr. Gruber’s shop. He lastly takes part in a ballet when a Russian dancer’s ego gets too big for himself.

My Thoughts: I liked it better than I thought I would. At first (again) I thought this was going to be about his adventures on a ship. Thankfully it wasn’t. I don’t know what it is about sea books that turn me off. It started kinda slow. But as soon as he meet that man, I just KNEW what was coming. OH PADDINGTON! You can’t be counting your money out in public like that. And what I thought was gonna happen was the man was gonna grab his suitcase and run! As lovable as Paddington is the Brown’s need to sit him down and explain to him that not everyone can be trusted. And when people come up to you talking fast about how much interest your money’s gonna make in something you never even heard off all “Jim Dandy” (and the name just SCREAMS fakeness, cuz wasn’t JIM DANDY a food product a long time ago?) would have gotten was one of those hard stares of his. Mostly when Paddington messes up I blame the adult. This time not so much. What made Paddington think he could cut that man’s hair after NEVER having picked up a pair of clippers a day in his life? I actually kind of laughed when he tried to take all the pieces of hair on the floor and glue them to the man’s head. Like COME ON Paddington! REALLY? And they’re all different KINDS of hair. Of COURSE, it would be a toupee. Because I guess the goal isn’t for this adorable little creature to get into any “real” trouble so that’s why all these “magical” occurrences tend to happen to let him off the hook. I wasn’t thinking of there being pins as the reason he was jumping so high at the ballet but when I got to the end it made perfect sense. This one made me laugh because of the ridiculous scene in the barbershop. Although women do use glue but it’s usually the same texture of hair. Paddington needs Cosmetology 101.

Rating: 7

[James Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book in a charity shop when I was visiting Hereford this summer just gone. It was one I wasn't too familiar with in terms of its cover, so I bought it as a nice memento of the trip.

I've always been a huge fan of charity shops, and I owe a lot to them. As a child, I would often frequent every charity shop I came across—my Saturdays during this time would be spent swimming, then having lunch out, and then stopping off at the 4 local charity shops within Poulton-Le-Fylde (two Age UKs, an Oxfam and a Trinity Hospice) before heading to Booths and getting our ingredients for a homemade pizza. Good times. I also have charity shops to thank for my introduction to the 5th Doctor, as it was an Oxfam in Preston where I found 3 VHSs of Doctor Who stories (Earthshock, The Five Doctors and The TV Movie) when on one of my visits to the town with my Granddad.

I feel it would be rather big-headed to compare myself to Paddington, but I do think in some ways I am very similar to the bear from Darkest Peru. Though I think we all were at one point or another. I have never read Paddington at Work before, and all but one of these stories hadn't been adapted elsewhere to my knowledge. To read six new Paddington misadventures was a great joy, and it was nice to do so from a copy published back in the 70s that I can call my own, all thanks to a charity shop I visited on the off chance I'd find something special there—and find something special I did.

[Kasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uroczy kochany niedźwiadek powraca, tym razem w książce „Paddington przy pracy”. Michael Bond stworzył postać, która chwyta za serce kolejne pokolenia.

Uroczy Paddington to bardzo pracowity niedźwiadek. Stara się sumiennie wykonywać swoje obowiązki i bardzo rzetelnie przykłada się do zleconych mu zadań. Tym razem, po niefortunnym zdarzeniu z akcjami naftowymi nieistniejącej spółki, postanawia zacząć pracować. W tym celu najmuje się u pana Curry’ego, pomaga panu Gruberowi, a także zatrudnia się w zakładzie fryzjerskim. Oprócz pracowania Paddington umie także odpoczywać, na przykład podczas przedstawienia baletowego.

Ale jak to w przypadku Paddingtona bywa, jego niezwykły dar do pakowania się w kłopoty i tym razem go nie opuszcza. Na szczęście ten przesympatyczny miś ze swoim nieodpartym urokiem oczarowuje wszystkich, a to, co zdawało się wielką katastrofą, zmienia się w błyskotliwe pomysły i nieszablonowe rozwiązania.

Jak zawsze podczas lektury przygód Paddingtona i tym razem bawiłam się świetnie. Niejeden raz uśmiechnęłam się z sympatią i pokiwałam ze zrozumieniem głową. Ten miś z pewnością skradnie Wasze serca.

To jak - zaprzyjaźnicie się z Paddingtonem?

Michael Bond „Paddington przy pracy”, il. Peggy Fortnum, wyd. Znak Emotikon
Wiek czytelników: 5+
Liczba stron: 160

[Katja Labonté · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars & 4/10 hearts. This wasn’t quite as funny as “Paddington Marches On,” but it was funny enough. xD The second chapter was really hilarious, and so was the fifth!! Minus a few euphemisms, this is a great book. I can’t wait to read more Paddington books! :D

A Favourite Humorous Quote: “Mr. Curry picked up a stake from a nearby pile and then pushed it firmly into the ground with both hands. ‘Now,’ he said, ‘when I nod my head, you hit it.’
“For a moment Paddington looked at Mr. Curry as if he could hardly believe his ears and then, as the Browns’ neighbour closed his eyes and began nodding his head vigorously to show that he was ready, he took a firm grasp of the mallet with both paws. 
“A moment later a yell of pain rang out round Windsor Gardens[.] Paddington jumped back in alarm and the mallet fell unheeded from his paws as to his surprise, instead of looking pleased, Mr. Curry let go of the stake, gave another tremendous yell, and then began dancing up and down clutching his head with both hands.”

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have really loved these books for our story time. We listen to the audiobook (which is well performed) while my child follow along in the book for the pictures and for unfamiliar words. Paddington is fun, predictable in a sense you know something will go wrong but it will be funny and it will all work out in the end. However the predictability does not make it boring but instead enticing to see what mischief Paddington will get into next. I also like that it introduces us to British culture and events my children may not be familiar with in order to expand their horizons. Definitely will be a reread in our house.

Recommend for:
- All: the audiobook at meal/snack/craft/quiet time is great for littles. "Paddington" is in my toddler's vocabulary now.
- Angliophiles
- Story time, read aloud
- homeschool

[Maria Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was about a bear named Paddington he lived happy in darkest peru but one night there was a earthquake in the forest so there family (Aunt Luci and Uncle Pastuso) go to a safe house but Uncle Pastuso stated seen there beautiful house been destroyed by the earthquake and the Paddington a her Aunt Luci survived but sadly Uncle Pastuso die so Paddington needed to go to New York to have a new family so he stayed with the Browns but he wanted to give Aunt Luci a gift because it was her birthday he saws a pop up book that is so beautiful but it is very expensive so he decided to get a job so the book is about how he worked in his jobs for example in a barber when he cutted all of a man’s hair.

[Len · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll consider buying the whole Paddington series after reading this one!
Paddington returns to the Browns after his trip back to Peru. He starts to get involved in several jobs, but whatever he does, he only finds himself in trouble. Fortunately, he always seems to turn the table around and wins everybody's heart, and every disaster turns out to be blessings in disguise!
Funny and simple, this one is definitely a must if you're into children's books and a fan of Paddington!