An illustrated history of the teddy bear and the many roles he has played.

An illustrated history of the teddy bear and the many roles he has played.

Lyrics to the well-known song are accompanied by original illustrations.

From the yo-yo to the hula hoop to the Frisbee®, Slinky®, Barbie®, and so many more, the classic toys honored in the National Toy Hall of Fame bridge all generations with the most basic of joyous endeavors: play! Regardless of one's age, this book will hold a special place in everyone's heart, as the toys inside not only bring back happy memories for the older generations, but they are still being enjoyed today. This deluxe package is a vibrant celebration of America's favorite playthings, brimming with exciting color photography and delightful text that capture the essence and evolution of our country's most beloved toys.

The family firm of J K Farnell & Co Ltd occupies a position of unparalleled importance in British soft toy history, firstly because it was the very first British toy company to manufacture teddy bears, and also because it created the actual bear that inspired A A Milne to write the Winnie the Pooh stories. Yet impressive as those facts undoubtedly are, they comprise just a small fraction of the fascinating Farnell story. Founded in the Nineteenth century, for decades J.K. Farnell & Co Ltd was the most respected and influential soft toy manufacturer in Britain. Thanks to the superior quality of its products, the company experienced enormous commercial success at national and international level - even in Germany, home to its biggest rival, there was great demand for Farnell products. Surviving economic depression, devastating fire, the ravages of World War II and other traumatic events, the company kept going until fundamental changes in the British toy market forced its closure in 1970. Since then, the Farnell name has been forgotten by all but a dedicated band of teddy bear enthusiasts and the true story of this pioneering British firm has fallen into obscurity. Now, thanks to Kathy Martin's intensive research, the facts about J K Farnell & Co Ltd and its fabulous teddy bears are revealed in this informative and entertaining book.

The Untold Story of the Teddy Bear solves a mystery in the history of the Teddy Bear. When the Steiff Company of Giengen, Germany created what we know as the classic Teddy Bear in the fall of 1902, the first to be made of mohair with movable arms and legs, no one would buy it. After being presented to toy buyers in the United States and Europe, no one was interested, partly due to its cost, size, and weight. Then along came a toy buyer, in the spring of 1903, who saw it on display at the Leipzig Spring Fair in Germany, and bought 3,000. According to the Steiff Company, they have no document that reveals the buyer's name. The only record they have is the amount of the sale, though they know he was an American representing an American company. Having financial troubles at the time, Margarete's small shop of handmade toys was about to be taken over by its creditors, so it was this sale of the little bears that saved the company. Not having that many toy bears on hand to fill such a huge order, however, many townspeople were enlisted to help so that the shipment would arrive at its destination in time for Christmas. As revealed in The Untold Story of the Teddy Bear, the first true history of the Teddy Bear, the author's grandfather was the American buyer, representing Carson Pirie Scott & Co. of Chicago, who placed that first large order of Steiff's new toy bear and gave it the name "Teddy," now referred to as the "Teddy" bear. The author tells the dramatic story of her grandfather's life and the difficulties he had to overcome, before becoming a successful international buyer, and the remarkable story of Margarete Steiff, founder of her little company of handmade toys. The text also documents the history of the now famous toy bear, in advertisements and editorials, from the time it arrived in the United States in 1903 to its sudden rise in popularity by 1907. Included is the story of the revival of handmade Teddy Bears after World War II, with colorful photographs that illustrate the work of today's talented, award-winning artists. With this book, the author ties together the people, dramatic events, and circumstances that resulted in the establishment of the world's most beloved toy and what these endearing bears have come to mean to children and adults all over the world.