Book Review: Paddington At Work by Michael Bond (Paddington Bear #7)

Here’s Paddington once more, just returned from a visit to Darkest Peru and his Aunt Lucy’s birthday celebration at the Home for Retired Bears. Now that Paddington is home with the Browns, he’s free to cause his usual kind of trouble: dabbling in the stock market, trying a career as a barber, even taking a turn at the ballet. But the promise of international fame doesn’t turn this bear’s head. Not for long, at least. Indeed, readers will agree, it’s far better to be simply a bear called Paddington.

My Review: 
The Browns are relieved to hear that Paddington is on his way home from visiting his Aunt Lucy in Darkest Peru. They are so excited to see him that they decide to turn up on the ship for the last leg of their voyage to surprise him. Unfortunately, Paddington thinks that he is having hallucinations and has to visit the ship doctor. He also has anxiety about the possibility of not winning the journey time sweep and how you can unstick your paws! The poor bear arrives home to a run in with a heartless conman who robs him of all his savings and he is under investigation by the police who think he is the conman. It's all very hard for a good natured, well intentioned bear to deal with. I felt so bad for the wee guy.

Paddington decides that he needs more money and gets a job as an assistant at a barber shop. It is bad timing that the owner nips out for a coffee just as a pushy customer insists on Paddington giving him a trim. Hair clippers and paws really don't go well together! He goes to a ballet display ay Judy's school and chaos occurs when the professional dancer has a few diva issues and the schoolgirl who is to dance with him goes missing. Paddington is a game bear at the best of times but his decision to step in and do the dance hits a snap due to a mishap with tights! Paddington in tights doing ballet was a really funny story.

I couldn't wait to see what was happening in this book because of the cover. The sight of Paddington with a sledgehammer and a look of purpose on his face is a bad combination for Mr Curry. Who in their right mind lets Paddington loose in their house after telling him how you fancy having a hatch in your kitchen? It might also help if Paddington watched what he was doing and went to work on the right wall! This was my favourite story in the book by far and the illustrations are really funny!

Poor Paddington! He can't do right for wrong but he does mean well!

Read July 2020
4 stars.