From the Preface to the Boissevain Books Edition by Brigid Marlin:
This is a story of the adventures of an old Teddy bear
that was thrown out into the world and had many trials before he found
a new home again. The real bear, the hero of this story, also had many
adventures because after many years in a comfortable home in Ireland,
he was suddenly taken to Canada, where he became the companion of new
little boys and eventually the subject of a still-life painting and ...
this book. My Mother, Hilda van Stockum, was always moved to write by
the children around her. When her own children grew up, she turned to
her grandchildren. This book was inspired by Benjamin Ervin Oakley,
Hilda's first grandchild, and the little old bear that had once
belonged to his father!
