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Paddington #9.6
Paddington Takes to TV
When Paddington, the lovably precocious bear, becomes a star on Britain's favorite children's show after he enters a baking contest, chaos ensues in the form of a missing parrot and an origami disaster when he cuts the cake on live television.
131 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1971
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248 people want to read
About the author
Michael Bond
629 books407 followersMichael 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.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 19, 2020
This is a special collection of Paddington stories written for the annual Christmas magazine of a BBC television program the author, Michael Bond, did camerawork for during the '60s and '70s called Blue Peter. The book's original title is Paddington's Blue Peter Story Book, renamed Paddington Takes to TV for American readers. It contains some very sweet and funny stories that are classic Paddington and so fun to read even if you're not quite sure what Blue Peter is all about. Fun fact: Blue Peter premiered in 1958 and is still going strong! It's the longest-running children's show in the world.
There is a second Blue Peter story book all about Paddington, the American title of which is Paddington on Screen. It's next on my kids' and my tbr!
There is a second Blue Peter story book all about Paddington, the American title of which is Paddington on Screen. It's next on my kids' and my tbr!
April 6, 2021
So witty. Paddington is influenced by Blue Peter, and even gets on the show! This completes my reading of the "young gentleman bear." Such a delight!
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June 13, 2024Paddington Takes To Tv
“Paddington Takes the Cake”
Paddington wins a prize in a Blue Peter contest. The six winners are invited to bake a cake and they’ll get a prize of their choosing. Paddington guessed the correct raisins in a pile on a television show. Mrs. Brown offers Paddington the use of an old field kitchen. In the garage, Paddington tries to read a book about a spin dryer. It says nothing about how to use it to make Christmas cakes. Val (the lady on tv) made it all look so easy. He pours some ingrediants in a bowl and tries to stir it with Mr. Brown’s paint stirrer but it bursts into flames. So, then he tries to use the dryer. Of course, he gets cake batter everywhere and some of the contents disappear. He finds some of it on his fur. Then he sees its in the drum of the machine. He puts the cake in Mr. Brown’s oven. When its done it takes up the whole oven and it’s charred. So, he just takes the whole thing with him to the tv studio. After some confusion, being taken to the head of expeditions, he’s lead to the right place. He somehow wins first pize and says he wants a new field kitchen for Mr. Brown. (A field kitchen seems to be used for camping). He shows them that the cake swings open and Val is impressed that since he couldn’t get the cake out he iced the oven.
“Paddington Gets The Bird”
Something is eating holes in Mr. Brown’s paper and he’s heard screeching. All the family has also been repeating him. They tell him it’s Paddington’s bird “Joey” who he’s been minding for the people at the television studio. Paddington is invited to be on the series that Joey stars on. They’ve bonded over marmalade. He’s so busy cleaning up the messes he made, he hasn’t watched Joey tho. When he goes to tend to him .. he’s missing. Paddington is late and John takes Joey’s cage. Paddington has to “mime” Joey’s voice, but when John and Val open the cage they see something shrivled and moldy. They have to explain to the viewers he isn’t well. There’s a bald patch and part of his beak has snapped off. The Browns know this can’t be Joey and wonder where the real one is. Mrs. Brown finds out the real Hoey has been locked in Paddingtons suitcase and Paddington has used a stuffed one in his place. (This after getting Paddington to open his case and eat a marmalade sandwich.
Paddington to the Rescue”
All the Browns and Paddington decide to go to the seaside. They take a train and Paddington is excited because they’ll be eating in the dining car. The flurry in the kitchen catches his attention. He hears the cooks saying don’t take any more orders for the fish. It’s off today. He can’t help telling a man he passes that he wouldn’t eat the fish. He heard one of the chefs say they stpped on it. A lady pushes her plate to the side. Then it goes around the table and everyone gets in an up roar. They finally reach the sea. Paddington asks to see the pier. They tell him when to be back. The man at the turn table says he won’t find much open. All the kiosks do seem to be closed. Paddington sees one that one of the machines can tell his future. All the card says is his lucky color is blue and he’ll make a lady tthat will cause him good tidings. There’s a man that sends him in the telescope (that’s the only way he’ll find good fortune). While looking, he sees a small boat being tossed up and down. A man is waving his hands and yelling for help. He tries to get the attention of someone but no one sees him. So, he decides to go to the man. But he realizes theres a slim chance he’ll get to the man. He finds himself on his back with a crowd around him. (He feels himself going under as he tries to save the man). Someone tries to give him artificial respiration. There’s a man in oil skins and he tells him he was crying for help but it was all a demonstration and the rescue was a part of it. (It’s for Blue Peter).
"Paddington Goes Halves”
The Brown’s notice all the paper is missing. Mrs. Bird’s shopping list is also missing. Then Mr. Brown’s sports page is missing. They find Paddington working on origami for a Blue Peter entry. There’s a prize for best idea, best model, and most original material. Paddington looks like he’s trying to make a boat. Mr. Grubber even gives him a book of things you can do using a piece of pear. But the models get more and more complicated in the book. Paddingtons paper always seems to get messy in comparion to the models in the book. He wants to make a rocket. Mr. Curry asks what’s going on and takes interest in the prize, but Paddington tells him he’s got no chance at the prize. The conest is tomorrow. Mr. Curry offers to supply him with more paper and the use of his guest room. If he wins they can split the prize money. He gives him some rolls of wallpaper and tells him not to make a mess. He has an idea and starts to cut out a square, but he didn’t expect the paper to be so thick. After a while he decides to take a rest. He sees a piece of string on the square and gives it a tug. The more he pulls the more string appears. He then stares at the patch of floor. When he first got there were was carpet. Now there’s a patch in it. Mr. Curry comes back and tells him he’s having second thoughts about the competition. He wants Paddington to give his paw mark to show they’re in agreement. Paddington tho gets choosen as one of the finalist. Paddington wins a prize for the best material. M r. Curry shows them the contract in which he mde Paddington sign to give away half his winnings for using his material. But the jokes on him. Paddington won marmalade and he’s used carpet and make a model of the BBC television studios. Val and John decide since the carpet is Mr. Curry’s they’ll also send him a badge. The Browns decide they’ll also have to get Mr. Curry a new carpet and have it installed.
“Paddington Gives a Service”
This is about a tennis match Paddington gets to watch at Blue Peter. Paddington wins the match.
“Paddington Weighs In.”
Val, John, and Peter Paddington afinds out are robbed of their savings. They’d been visiting a hotel nerby. So, he decides to check out the hotel. Paddington requests two of mr. Constantine’s plummels. The lady at the desk tells him he might want a bath after. Mr. Plummel lays Paddington back and immediately cracks his legs. (Paddington thinks he’s about to be waited on like in a restaurant). Then he starts to work his legs in a very painful way. Mr. Constantine is going him quite a work out and asking is it good. He doesn’t understand English. Paddington gets him to understand this isn’t what he wanted. He thinks he wants other things and takes it to mean show him the ropes to and then a steam bath. Paddington decides if Peter, johm, and Val spent time with mr. Constantine they’d be in no shape to defend themselves from a robbery. After this he goes to hae a meal. He gets something that he thinks is soffle but it’s a teaspoon full of carrot juice. After the Browns come to get him-after the customers get upset that he pulls out a marmalade sandwich- that this is a health center. Paddington tells the Browns the Blue Peter team was robbed but Judy explains they lost pounds as in weight not money.
Paddington’s Good Deed
Paddington has a clean out and takes some of his things to the Brownies. Then others join in. It becomes known as “Paddington’s Appeal”. He bundles up in some of the things he plans to donate. One of the ladies calls him a WW (willing worker). She says they never had a bear volunteer and goes to speak with a lady and tells him to wait there a minute. Another lady (Tawny) says they are putting on a show and the gnomes are short. Meaning there are only five. They’re going to have a friendly competion. She tells how all the ways you can win a badge. One of them is frying bread. He decides he wants to enter that one. She says they’’l l have the sale but first there will be a short play and that’s what she’d like him to join the gnomes in. Paddington is told by Brown Owl he’ll be playing a fly. He doesn’t think much of the role. Then it looks like he’s trying to open the window. After a while he sits down and watches the rest of the play. He then notices a man wearing his hat. The man says he brought it in the jumble for three pence. The man says if it was so important he shouldn’t have left it on the table. Then he also shows him his duffle coat. Paddington accidently steps on something, lands on his jelly, and flies across the stage.Paddington finds himself in a heap of curtains and wite and jelly in a seat in the audience. Paddington gets his things back tho. Twany presents Paddington with a collector’s badge and thanks him for a successful evening.
Rating: 5 Fun Series! Paddington is very lovable. Yet at times difficult to understand the stories.
“Paddington Takes the Cake”
Paddington wins a prize in a Blue Peter contest. The six winners are invited to bake a cake and they’ll get a prize of their choosing. Paddington guessed the correct raisins in a pile on a television show. Mrs. Brown offers Paddington the use of an old field kitchen. In the garage, Paddington tries to read a book about a spin dryer. It says nothing about how to use it to make Christmas cakes. Val (the lady on tv) made it all look so easy. He pours some ingrediants in a bowl and tries to stir it with Mr. Brown’s paint stirrer but it bursts into flames. So, then he tries to use the dryer. Of course, he gets cake batter everywhere and some of the contents disappear. He finds some of it on his fur. Then he sees its in the drum of the machine. He puts the cake in Mr. Brown’s oven. When its done it takes up the whole oven and it’s charred. So, he just takes the whole thing with him to the tv studio. After some confusion, being taken to the head of expeditions, he’s lead to the right place. He somehow wins first pize and says he wants a new field kitchen for Mr. Brown. (A field kitchen seems to be used for camping). He shows them that the cake swings open and Val is impressed that since he couldn’t get the cake out he iced the oven.
“Paddington Gets The Bird”
Something is eating holes in Mr. Brown’s paper and he’s heard screeching. All the family has also been repeating him. They tell him it’s Paddington’s bird “Joey” who he’s been minding for the people at the television studio. Paddington is invited to be on the series that Joey stars on. They’ve bonded over marmalade. He’s so busy cleaning up the messes he made, he hasn’t watched Joey tho. When he goes to tend to him .. he’s missing. Paddington is late and John takes Joey’s cage. Paddington has to “mime” Joey’s voice, but when John and Val open the cage they see something shrivled and moldy. They have to explain to the viewers he isn’t well. There’s a bald patch and part of his beak has snapped off. The Browns know this can’t be Joey and wonder where the real one is. Mrs. Brown finds out the real Hoey has been locked in Paddingtons suitcase and Paddington has used a stuffed one in his place. (This after getting Paddington to open his case and eat a marmalade sandwich.
Paddington to the Rescue”
All the Browns and Paddington decide to go to the seaside. They take a train and Paddington is excited because they’ll be eating in the dining car. The flurry in the kitchen catches his attention. He hears the cooks saying don’t take any more orders for the fish. It’s off today. He can’t help telling a man he passes that he wouldn’t eat the fish. He heard one of the chefs say they stpped on it. A lady pushes her plate to the side. Then it goes around the table and everyone gets in an up roar. They finally reach the sea. Paddington asks to see the pier. They tell him when to be back. The man at the turn table says he won’t find much open. All the kiosks do seem to be closed. Paddington sees one that one of the machines can tell his future. All the card says is his lucky color is blue and he’ll make a lady tthat will cause him good tidings. There’s a man that sends him in the telescope (that’s the only way he’ll find good fortune). While looking, he sees a small boat being tossed up and down. A man is waving his hands and yelling for help. He tries to get the attention of someone but no one sees him. So, he decides to go to the man. But he realizes theres a slim chance he’ll get to the man. He finds himself on his back with a crowd around him. (He feels himself going under as he tries to save the man). Someone tries to give him artificial respiration. There’s a man in oil skins and he tells him he was crying for help but it was all a demonstration and the rescue was a part of it. (It’s for Blue Peter).
"Paddington Goes Halves”
The Brown’s notice all the paper is missing. Mrs. Bird’s shopping list is also missing. Then Mr. Brown’s sports page is missing. They find Paddington working on origami for a Blue Peter entry. There’s a prize for best idea, best model, and most original material. Paddington looks like he’s trying to make a boat. Mr. Grubber even gives him a book of things you can do using a piece of pear. But the models get more and more complicated in the book. Paddingtons paper always seems to get messy in comparion to the models in the book. He wants to make a rocket. Mr. Curry asks what’s going on and takes interest in the prize, but Paddington tells him he’s got no chance at the prize. The conest is tomorrow. Mr. Curry offers to supply him with more paper and the use of his guest room. If he wins they can split the prize money. He gives him some rolls of wallpaper and tells him not to make a mess. He has an idea and starts to cut out a square, but he didn’t expect the paper to be so thick. After a while he decides to take a rest. He sees a piece of string on the square and gives it a tug. The more he pulls the more string appears. He then stares at the patch of floor. When he first got there were was carpet. Now there’s a patch in it. Mr. Curry comes back and tells him he’s having second thoughts about the competition. He wants Paddington to give his paw mark to show they’re in agreement. Paddington tho gets choosen as one of the finalist. Paddington wins a prize for the best material. M r. Curry shows them the contract in which he mde Paddington sign to give away half his winnings for using his material. But the jokes on him. Paddington won marmalade and he’s used carpet and make a model of the BBC television studios. Val and John decide since the carpet is Mr. Curry’s they’ll also send him a badge. The Browns decide they’ll also have to get Mr. Curry a new carpet and have it installed.
“Paddington Gives a Service”
This is about a tennis match Paddington gets to watch at Blue Peter. Paddington wins the match.
“Paddington Weighs In.”
Val, John, and Peter Paddington afinds out are robbed of their savings. They’d been visiting a hotel nerby. So, he decides to check out the hotel. Paddington requests two of mr. Constantine’s plummels. The lady at the desk tells him he might want a bath after. Mr. Plummel lays Paddington back and immediately cracks his legs. (Paddington thinks he’s about to be waited on like in a restaurant). Then he starts to work his legs in a very painful way. Mr. Constantine is going him quite a work out and asking is it good. He doesn’t understand English. Paddington gets him to understand this isn’t what he wanted. He thinks he wants other things and takes it to mean show him the ropes to and then a steam bath. Paddington decides if Peter, johm, and Val spent time with mr. Constantine they’d be in no shape to defend themselves from a robbery. After this he goes to hae a meal. He gets something that he thinks is soffle but it’s a teaspoon full of carrot juice. After the Browns come to get him-after the customers get upset that he pulls out a marmalade sandwich- that this is a health center. Paddington tells the Browns the Blue Peter team was robbed but Judy explains they lost pounds as in weight not money.
Paddington’s Good Deed
Paddington has a clean out and takes some of his things to the Brownies. Then others join in. It becomes known as “Paddington’s Appeal”. He bundles up in some of the things he plans to donate. One of the ladies calls him a WW (willing worker). She says they never had a bear volunteer and goes to speak with a lady and tells him to wait there a minute. Another lady (Tawny) says they are putting on a show and the gnomes are short. Meaning there are only five. They’re going to have a friendly competion. She tells how all the ways you can win a badge. One of them is frying bread. He decides he wants to enter that one. She says they’’l l have the sale but first there will be a short play and that’s what she’d like him to join the gnomes in. Paddington is told by Brown Owl he’ll be playing a fly. He doesn’t think much of the role. Then it looks like he’s trying to open the window. After a while he sits down and watches the rest of the play. He then notices a man wearing his hat. The man says he brought it in the jumble for three pence. The man says if it was so important he shouldn’t have left it on the table. Then he also shows him his duffle coat. Paddington accidently steps on something, lands on his jelly, and flies across the stage.Paddington finds himself in a heap of curtains and wite and jelly in a seat in the audience. Paddington gets his things back tho. Twany presents Paddington with a collector’s badge and thanks him for a successful evening.
Rating: 5 Fun Series! Paddington is very lovable. Yet at times difficult to understand the stories.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2023
Michael Bond had been involved with the production of the British children's program, Blue Peter, which is currently the longest running children's program in the world (according to Wikipedia).
So it appears that he decided to write a book with Paddington becoming involved with the hosts of the program.
As usual, Paddington is up to his "old tricks", with the usual marmalade sandwiches under his hat.
And viewers of Blue Peter were invited to come along for the ride.......
Pass the marmalade please.
So it appears that he decided to write a book with Paddington becoming involved with the hosts of the program.
As usual, Paddington is up to his "old tricks", with the usual marmalade sandwiches under his hat.
And viewers of Blue Peter were invited to come along for the ride.......
Pass the marmalade please.
January 19, 2019
We enjoyed this one, though I imagine it would be more enjoyable if you are familiar with the Blue Peter television program. My favorite story was the first one, when Paddington bakes a cake. The girls love Paddington and their favorite part is always when he gives someone “a hard stare.”
October 25, 2017
The kids enjoyed this despite the very British references they often didn’t understand. However, this was not my favorite Paddington book.
July 18, 2018
It is another collection of amusing stories about the one and only marmalade-loving Paddington.
February 27, 2025
OK. I thought it might be more charming than it was and the Blue Peter references were dated
August 27, 2014
Paddington stories have been go-to bedtime reading for our family for some years. We've read through a number of the books--and multiple readings of favorite stories. Paddington Takes to TV, however, is a different animal (well, yes, still a bear, but...). The stories were featured in a magazine about the BBC children's program Blue Peter, and almost all of the stories feature an appearance by the show's lovable (I guess) cast. This makes this particular collection rather a hard sell for an American audience. I at least know what Blue Peter is, because it shows up occasionally in the extra features of Doctor Who DVDs. But I didn't grow up with it and don't have a real warm spot for it. There are a couple of setups with potential (such as Paddington baking a cake in the camp oven), but in general none of the stories felt like Bond's best work. I'd say this one is best for people who have some nostalgia for Blue Peter.
One interesting note: this book features the first illustration I've seen of Mr Curry (there may be others in other books that I haven't yet read).
October 8, 2010
This has earned it's place for good reason. Firstly it was presented to me as a prize book when I was in primary 2 and for that reason it will retain a place on my bookshelf.
Secondly, it had the potential to put me off reading for life. I always hated it as a kid - Paddington bear is for me like Winnie the Pooh.......boring! Teddy from timbuktoo , well now we're talking <3
Oh...and my copy of this is called Padding bear blue Peter story book ...same book .
Secondly, it had the potential to put me off reading for life. I always hated it as a kid - Paddington bear is for me like Winnie the Pooh.......boring! Teddy from timbuktoo , well now we're talking <3
Oh...and my copy of this is called Padding bear blue Peter story book ...same book .
Read
February 19, 2009JAR6+Bon
August 28, 2014
One of the weaker Paddington books -- not as funny as the others -- but still undeniably charming.
April 11, 2015
It was an odd book -- more like a collection of short stories. Still, got to love that crazy bear!
February 8, 2008
Twelve of twelve
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