Teddy: The Remarkable Tale of a President, a Cartoonist, a Toymaker and a Bear

The story goes that on a hunting trip in 1902 President Theodore Teddy Roosevelt refused to shoot a bear. Me? Shoot that little fella? he said. Why if I so much as ruffled his fur Id never be able to look my children in the eyes again! When a political cartoonist shared the story in the newspaper New York shopkeepers Rosie and Morris Michtom were impressed by the presidents big warm heart. So they decided to create a Teddy bear in his honor to sell in their store. The bear was so popular they made another one. And another. Before they knew it they had to build a factory to accommodate the demand: it seemed every child wanted a teddy bear of their own! James Sage uses a playful blend of fact and fiction to tell this entertaining tale. The back matter includes a historical note photos and a list of sources. The lively fun narrative and vivid illustrations by Lisk Feng make for a wonderful read-aloud with universal appeal: adults will find it as charming as children do. The book has many applications in the social studies curriculum for the early grades as the period and the president are brought vividly to life. And of course its a perfect pick for Presidents Day. The story also presents an inspiring small-business entrepreneurial success story.