Amrita Bose in TimeOut, Mumbai
Did you know that teddy bears suffer from panic attacks
if left alone in a park? Author Jerry Pinto shares the
anxieties of such bears in his new book for children.
He probes deep into the imaginary world of a troubled
little girl Felicia and her hand-me-down teddy bear,
Thurston Gustavus Buckridge III. Thurston is no ordinary
teddy bear even though he might look like one. Born
in Germany, Thurston has made a long journey from a
charity shop in England to Felicia’s grandmother,
mother and finally her. Felicia loves Thurston and cannot
bear to part with him. But soon enough, Thurston finds
out that he is a rather special and expensive teddy
bear and might just be sold off to a collector. With
an introduction that is sure to hook readers, Pinto
creates several interesting layers in the narrative.
Thurston not only plays friend to Felicia but also takes
over as therapist from time to time. The author gives
voice to the complicated workings of a child’s
mind and also has a thing or two to say to parents.
A great read.
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