The inspiration for Paddington was deeply personal for author Michael Bond. On Christmas Eve 1956, Bond spotted a solitary teddy bear on a shelf in a London shop near Paddington Station and bought it for his wife.
: Bond drew on his memories of World War II child evacuees and Jewish refugees arriving in Britain via the Kindertransport .
Paddington embodies "old-fashioned" values like politeness and decency, which serve as a heartwarming counterpoint to modern cynicism. Where every Bear belongs - Health and Human Services News
