Monday, August 22, 2011

The Adventures of Donovan and Baby Bear

The day that Donovan first met Baby Bear was the day that he and Grandma had gone to have his picture taken. They had just left the photographer’s and had decided to visit the toy department. As they were walking through the aisles of shelf after shelf of toys, Donovan saw him. He was sitting on a shelf with other stuffed animals and toys, but all Donovan noticed was the little bear.


“Look Grandma, look at the baby bear,” said Donovan. “I want him to come home with me.” Donovan ran over to where the little bear was sitting and took him off of the shelf and started hugging him. He was hugging him so tightly that Grandma had a hard time finding the price tag to give to the sales lady so they could pay for him. This is how Donovan discovered Baby Bear.


When he got back to Grandpa and Grandma’s house, Donovan could hardly wait to show Grandpa and his great grandma, whom he called Gee Gee his new friend. They both thought Baby Bear was a very nice bear and they were glad to have him come live with them.

Donovan and Baby Bear did everything together. They ate together…they played together…they watched television together with Donovan explaining the parts that Baby bear didn’t understand. They spent every moment of every day together. At night when they went to bed Donovan would hold onto Baby Bear and slip his finger through Baby Bear’s tag. The tag formed a loop and Donovan told Grandma that the tag was a finger house.


Donovan and Baby Bear made up games to play. One day they were playing in the kitchen and Donovan decided to press his face against the glass of the French door and make his face look funny and flat to make Baby Bear laugh. Uncle Ken was there that day and he was laughing along with Baby Bear. Uncle Ken told Donovan that they should let Baby Bear press his face against the glass to make them laugh. So Baby Bear pressed his face against the glass but when he did his face went blank. He was so soft and furry his face seemed to disappear.


This is the beginning of a book that I wrote and illustrated some 20 plus years ago. It’s based on the relationship between my grandson and his teddy bear. I finished the story and drew eleven drawings but never finished the illustrations as other things were always getting in the way. I thought it would be fun to share this first bit of the story and because these are the only drawings that got colored it’s as far as I can go at this time. The paper is old and yellowing and the drawings are done in colored pencil so I must apologise for the quality of the photos. I tried scanning them first but the scanned pictures were even poorer and the colors were so different that they didn't even look like the same drawings.
I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing the beginnings of my great novel. Grinning here.
As always, thanks for stopping by.

16 comments:

The Bear's Blog said...

Hi Miss Maddyrose,

You're an author? I like this story and hope that you will continue telling it.

As for the colors and yellowing of the paper - I think that just adds more character to the story. Will you be having a book signing any time soon? Will it be at the North Pole?

Heaps of Hugs
Prudence

OmaLindasOldeBaggsandStuftShirts said...

I'm so darned impressed I can't stand myself. I love, love, love this story and the illustrations are wonderful. Please tell and show more.........

Cobblestone Creations said...

So sweet! Thanks for sharing. :D

Katy Cameron said...

Aww, what?! You can't leave us in suspenders like that!!!

*We want more*, *We want more*, *We want mre*

So sayeth The Thistle Patch Clan and Jack

Kays Kids said...

Just keep that book out of the cupboard and finish the drawings.
We want to see it all. It doesn't matter about the pages yellowing, it makes it all the more special.

orchid0324 said...

Dear Maddyrose,
Wow, how SWEET the story is!!!
You wrote the story, another talent you have☆☆☆
Don't worry about the color, so lovely♬♬♬
Hugs from east xoxo Orchid.

Lisa said...

Wow, this is great! And I love the idea that the paper is old and yellowed. I see this as your footprint! It's precious and special!

Lots of hugs,
Lisa

Diny said...

Please finish this story. I think it is lovely.
You can be very creative with your mind too than you don't need your hands...And you can make the drawings when your hand get better....
Than maybe many grandmothers can read your story to there grandchildren....That would be great!

yoborobo said...

I love your story. I love that he called the loop his 'finger house.' How sweet is that? You should finish it! Has your grandson seen it? What a lovely keepsake for him. :)) xox Pam

Leny said...

Lovely ,I like it a lot!!

Great work!!

Big hugs my friend,
Leny

Ascension said...

Me ha encantado tu historia y los dibujos son fantasticos, enhorabuena.
besitos ascension

Anonymous said...

This storybook needs finished and put into print! I love this story, the art, the pacing...everything. You could make so many children happy with this book and then happy children make happy parents and that just escalates within the scope of humanity. No pressure. ;-)

Thank you so much for the sweet birthday wish! Have a beautifully creative week, my sweet MaddyRose.

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

What a wonderful story!

Marijke van Ooijen said...

Hay Miss...

What a lovely story and this paintings are so beautiful.
I love to look and read..

Have a nice week-end,
Marijke

Unknown said...

Sweet story! Love it!

Hugs,
Marion

Maggie said...

Hey Maddy, I love that you still have your Donovan story! I still have my Michael's Bad Day story, too! The illustrations are wonderful, maybe I should get you to illustrate my story. I can't believe these grandkids that we wrote about so long ago are grown men now!
Love you,
Maggie