Our office teddy bear and his friends Clifford and Liz (from the Magic School Bus)

Show of hands (or responses), how many people had a stuffed animal growing up? One they carried with them like a security blanket and cuddled with during bedtime? I think that’s most people. So let’s take a moment to commemorate the most popular stuffed animal – the teddy bear! Today is Bring Your Teddy Bear to Work Day – a perfect time to reminisce about our favorite literary teddy bears:

Corduroy: The teddy bear in a department store on a quest for a missing button. He doesn’t find a button in the store, but a friend who loves him (missing button and all). She gives him a new home – and a new button.

Paddington Bear: The Brown family finds Paddington with the note “Please look after this bear. Thank You.” Paddington, a stowaway from “the darkest Peru,” goes home with the Browns to live in London. Interesting fact: author Michael Bond was inspired by a bear he bought for his wife for Christmas at a store near Paddington Station!

Winnie-the-Pooh – A.A. Milne’s son, Christopher Robin Milne, received a stuffed bear for his first birthday. He named him Edward Bear, but later changed his name to Winnie-the-Pooh.  Mr. Milne decided the bear, along with Christopher’s other stuffed animals and imaginary friends, would make a great bedtime story, and thus began the adventures of Pooh Bear. You can find more fun facts about Winnie-the-Pooh at the New York Public Library’s website.

Teddy Ruxpin – The talking bear for children from the ‘80s. With a cassette deck built in to his back, the story telling bear would read audio books to children. His popularity inspired many more stories for kids!

Any favorite bears I missed? Let us know in the comments!