Hilarious Adventures of Paddington - Michael Bond Angela Carteronce wrote an essay comparing Paddington and Winnie the Pooh. Her conclusion was that Pooh was a more English bear and that Paddington was a foreigner. Rather strange considering some of the other essays in the collection. Anyway, despite the whiff of jingoism, Carter did have a point. There is something about Pooh that sticks more in the mind than his cousin, okay Carter okay, his distant cousin, Paddington.Despite being named after a famous train station, Paddington is a forgeign bear. To a degree, he lacks the charm and homely aspect of Pooh. I can remember Pooh much better than I can remember Paddington. I, however, also remember loving Paddington when I was younger and only liking Pooh. I had a Paddington stuffed bear, complete with tag. Who am I kidding with had? I still have it. Still with his coat and boots, and ticket. I know extactly where he is. I never had a stuffed Pooh bear. (Though I did have a Chewie and an Ewok).I think the reason why Paddington touches children is that he has this sense of wonder. Maybe he is a comment on the immigrant experience; I don't know. But there is a sense of good natured discovery that I connect to Paddington, something actively childlike about him. While Pooh was a good natured child, he also relied on Christopher Robin. Pooh, to a degree, lacked the curiousity that children have. Paddington, in many ways, is his own bear, though Pooh, most likely, is more bear like. Maybe this curiosity is why, despite Carter's correct observations, that Paddington has stood the test of time.