Bumpkin Hollow Teddy Bear – InkFreeNews.com

John memorized his first book.

John “Butch” Dale
Guest Columnist

John “Butch” Dale

When I was born in 1948, my grandmother Dale gave my parents a children’s book published that year. The title was “Teddy Bear from Bumpkin Hollow” written by Sharon Boucher. When I was older, my parents read this book to me, usually before bed.

They also read several other Little Golden books, but my favorite was Teddy Bear. I took it with me when I stayed over at my grandparents’ house, and Grandma Dale read the book to me, too. By the age of 4, I had the book memorized. As they turned the pages, I repeated the script and dialogue word for word. By the age of five, I could already read a few more simple books, so my parents decided it was time for me to go to first grade.

Looking back, I realized that I liked this book because it was a reflection of who I was at the time. It all starts like this: “Teddy was a little brown bear. He was easily the cutest little bear that ever lived in Bumpkin Hollow. But he had one very bad habit. No matter what his mother told him, he wanted to do the exact opposite.”

Yes, when I was very young, my parents tried their best to control me. I managed to get into trouble regularly. I was what is now called a strong-willed child. “Whatever mom wanted him to do, he didn’t want to do it.”

In the story, mom and dad bears send Teddy on an errand to a beehive to get a bucket of honey. He is told to be back by 10 o’clock, and if he does, he will be in for a pleasant surprise. But Teddy doesn’t follow their advice and gets distracted. He walks down a long road through the forest and stops to talk to Mr. Frog at an icy stream.

When he returns late, Teddy finds Cousin Amanda sitting in Mama Bear’s chair. “Your mom and dad left here at 10 o’clock this morning. They went to visit Grandma and Grandpa Bear. You could have gone with them if you had returned in time. Teddy ran to his little soft bed, hid his head under the pine needle pillow and cried and cried and cried.

“Late in the evening, Mom and Dad Bear returned home. Teddy thought about it. Seeing the mother bear, he ran to her. He hugged her. “I’ll never be a naughty little bear again,” he promised. “Of course not,” said Mama Bear. “Look what Grandma Bear sent you—big chocolate chip cookies with white sugar frosting. And she wants you to come see her next week. And Teddy went.

Every little child must learn to obey their parents and do what they are told. For some, this process takes a little longer. I am a shining example. As a child, I liked to do things my own way. But I learned. Sometimes in a painful way… “Bend over and grab your ankles!” … Eventually I “straightened up” and did what I was told. I could understand Teddy, and I think many of you can too.

Reading books to your child has many benefits. This will improve their cognitive function, mental agility, vocabulary, thinking skills and memory. It will also help them with social and emotional development, and research shows that it will help them cope with their feelings and develop empathy. Reading together helps parents and children build positive bonds.

I have a framed copy of Bumpkin Hollow Teddy Bear hanging on my wall at home. I remember the special moments my mom, dad, and grandma Dale read to me. The book also reminds me that in life, we all sometimes stray from the straight and narrow path, just like Teddy did. But, fortunately, we learn from our mistakes and change for the better. Then we can smile… and enjoy a big chocolate chip cookie with white sugar frosting…