HEY, THERE!

We’re winding down Month Two of 2025 and each week I’m (kind of) surprised by how much teddy bear news is out there. 

Weekly. 

And sometimes, daily. 

Be it teddy bear books being published or bear exhibits launching at the Louvre in Paris, bears are front and center.

Take Paddington. 

The old school bear is still captivating fans of all ages and his backstory comes to light in Paddington in Peru.

The third installment in the series hit theaters on Valentine’s Day. 

I’m partial to Paddington 2, but we’ll see what this third film brings in the charm category. 

For the first movie, nearly 350 effects artists spent two-and-a-half years creating the animated bear and integrating him into the live action movie, according to Variety magazine. 

The hardest part? 

“Finding the character that everyone loves,” said Charles Howell, production head in the Montreal office of vfx house Framestore, in the 2015 Variety article. 

“People know the books. We had the daunting challenge of bringing this creature to life. He had to be a realistic, living, breathing furry bear, not just a cartoon character.”

In short, Howell said: “We put the life in his eyes.” 

(Oh, and kept his British character.) 

I couldn’t agree more. 

About the eyes being the key to a bear’s connection, that is. 

Buckle up for the breakdown.

Next up in this issue:

• A Holocaust survivor shares his teddy bear story.

• A Memory Parade and the power of eye contact.

• Wanted: YOUR teddy bear stories

First time reading? Sign up here. 

LINKS
TEDDY BEARS IN PUBLIC

🎨 MUSEUMS 

A teddy bear exhibit at the Louvre Museum in Paris includes a therapeutic bear by a Canadian woman. (Global News)

🧸 PUBLISHING

A 98-year-old World War II Navy veteran published his first book, How’s Teddy? The True Story of Teddy Love (WJAR)

👷 LEGO

The LEGO Paddington Bear set made the cut of the 10 Best LEGO Creations last month. (Yanko Design)

DEEP DIVE 
ALL EYES ON THEE

Not the humans, like me, who have helped them succeed.

No, Ma’am.

Today we’re talking about their Plushie Pals.

Their Stuffed Animal Entourage. Their Bosom Friends of Fur.

Super G had Lamb-y, Olivia (a rag bear I made), Toby (dog she won), Pinkie (gift bear) and Alcatraz (giant sloth she bought).

JM3 had Froggy, which was a lizard (Don’t ask); Raffie (a mini giraffe) and Piggy.

Names aside, these furry friends helped us ALL grow up big and tall; confident and sure -  knowing that comfort is portable.

THESE FURRY FRIENDS HELPED US ALL GROW UP BIG AND TALL . . . KNOWING THAT COMFORT IS PORTABLE. 

Afterall, a plushie is one of the first things the kids learned to love aside from me. And being in this Inner Circle meant these peeps got the Family Treatment.

• Hugs and adventures

• Wingman status in Lego battles

• Pillow Pet Mode during Movie Night 

• Foot rest in the living room fort

They were to be protected, too. 

So no throwing, trashing or performing unauthorized surgery on said People was allowed. 

Ever.

Sure, said concept took a while to sink in, but the lessons paid off in not so obvious ways.

Super G articulates her feelings with a precision I admire. JM3 tends to keep his close to the vest, but knows how to share them when he’s ready. 

Sometimes they both needed reinforcements to tell their tales about a sibling fight or the kid who called them stupid on the bus.

That’s when the Old Heads - my Albert and Bearfoot - gave them snuggable courage.

But when I look back to where it began - the Plushie to Human connection -  it’s in the eyes. 

They’re the windows to our souls and what recognizes love. 

At first sight or the future potential.  

In both cases, it’s LIFE that’s reflected.

One that hints at companionship, wonder, and possibilities. 

Thank the connection that formed - and deepens over time.

You know it from childhood and see it in the relationship your kids have with their favorite stuffed animals. 

But how do you build that from scratch? 

In a bear you’ve made  - and want to be a part of someone’s life? 

We’ll dig into it next week with the Anatomy of an Expression series. 

See, a teddy bear’s expression is an opening, an invitation extended, thanks to:

• The set of the eyes

• The curve and placement of the ears

• The type of nose

• And the set of the mouth

Done right, this expressive face creates an opportunity for someone to forge a friendship that can outlast marriage, the stickiest trends and your questionable fashion choices. 

It’s magic and the power to make it is in your hands.

THE WHO OF YOU
WANTED: BEAR STORIES