Only a bear like Paddington could find himself taking a driving test by mistake, becoming a model at an art school, or being sawed in half at a magic show. No matter what adventures await, Paddington always comes through with flying colors. First published in 1979, Paddington Takes the Test is the seventh novel by Michael Bond, chronicling the adventures of this classic character. Paddington has warmed the hearts of generations of readers with his earnest good intentions and humorous misadventures. This edition of the classic novel contains the original text by Michael Bond and illustrations by Peggy Fortnum.

Paddington has warmed the hearts of generations of readers with his earnest good intentions and humorous misadventures. This brand-new edition of the classic novel contains the original text by Michael Bond and illustrations by Peggy Fortnum.What other bear but Paddington could find himself sent home on his first day of school? Or questioned as a prime witness in court? Or taking a crash course in water-skiing? Trust Paddington to follow his nose for adventure, with a suitcase full of marmalade sandwiches in tow!First published in 1974, Paddington on Top is the tenth classic novel about Michael Bond's beloved classic character, Paddington Bear.

A brand new glorious gift book of a much-loved classic. A celebration of words and pictures from the creator of Paddington Bear, Michael Bond, and contemporary genius Rob Biddulph! Living in the magical Herb Garden, Parsley the lion is never quite sure what's going to happen to him next . . . especially with an excitable friend like Dill the dog around. Parsley made his debut in 1968 in the children's animated TV series The Herbs, written by the creator of Paddington Bear, Michael Bond. Capturing the hearts of viewers, he went on to star in his own TV series The Adventures of Parsley in 1970, as well as in a series of books and on a wide range of merchandise. Now Michael Bond's hilarious books featuring Parsley the lion, first published nearly fifty years ago, are brought alive for a new generation in this contemporary colour gift edition, gloriously illustrated by the award-winning creator of Blown Away, Rob Biddulph.

The esteemed creator of Paddington Bear concocts another delicious escapade for Monsieur Pamplemousse and star sniffer dog Pommes FritesMonsieur Pamplemousse finds himself in deep water when an unfortunate collision with a Mother Superior is caught on camera by the French tabloids. To avoid media attention, he is sent to report on chef André Dulac, currently in line for Le Guide’s top award of the Golden Stock Pot Lid.But Pamplemousse's stay at the Hôtel Dulac is far from uneventful. His encounters with mysterious bloodstains, a strangely vibrating girl and a secret family legacy open a can of worms which threatens the very sanctity of France’s premier gastronomic bible . . .

Monsieur Pamplemousse, the eccentric flatfoot/gourmand and Pommes Frites, his clever dog, team up to sniff out clues when a not-so-merry prankster sabotages Le Guide''France's oldest and most respected food guide.' The fictional food bible's staff finds itself in a stew when a false obituary of the director appears in the local paper on the very day the final manuscript - the first edition produced by computer, with influential new restaurant ratings - is to be unveiled at a company celebration. There the director faints dead away when he finds the manuscript completely botched, riddled with missratings and erroneous reviews.

Since the Browns found Paddington on a railway platform and took him home to live with them, there has never been a dull moment at number 32 Windsor Gardens. But as he explained to them at the start, "Things happen to me: I'm that sort of a bear." There's the day his basket on wheels mysteriously disappears when he's out shopping in the market. And the time he locks the Browns' grouchy old neighbor, Mr. Curry, out of his house on Halloween night. However, everyone in the family, including Paddington, agrees that a surprise visit from a long-lost relative is the start of his most exciting adventure ever. For the first time in almost thirty years, everyone's favorite bear from Darkest Peru is starring in a brand-new novel—just in time for the fiftieth anniversary of his first adventure, *A Bear Called Paddington*.

During his time as an inspector with the Paris Sûreté Monsieur Pamplemousse had been 'in at the death' on more than one occasion, but even he had to admit that the phrase took on an entirely new meaning when he was present at the spectacular ending to Cuisine de Chavignol, France's premier television cookery programme.Seated in the front row of an invited studio audience, he watched in silent horror as the eponymous host, having downed an oyster in close-up, uttered a strangled cry and slowly but surely sank from view behind a kitchen worktop.Pommes Frites, sniffer dog extraordinaire, has his own views on the matter: Claude Chavignol was a bad egg if ever he'd seen one. Subsequence events prove him right, and soon he and his master find themselves caught up in a bizarre world of unrequited lust, murder and blackmail in high places.Colourful, comical and deliciously entertaining, it is no wonder that in this new adventure Monsieur Pamplemousse Hits...

The fifth in Bond's series about Aristide Pamplemousse, France's premier gourmet guide, begins with a mission right up his allee. Once more, however, a fairly simple task grows into an escapade for M. Pamplemousse and Pommes Frites, his smart little dog. They are driving to Port St. Augustin where Aristide is to advise on epicurean treats offered VIPs on a dirigible flying from France to England, reaffirming the entente cordiale signed by the two nations in 1904. Nothing must fail, but M. Pamplemousse senses threats to the great occasion even before arriving in the seacoast town. A group of oddly behaving nuns; a near-fatal fall by Yasmin, the trapeze artist at the local circus; the snubbing from Aristide's old friend, a British detective; and other events plant suspicions that turn the gastronome into his former self as inspector of police in Paris. The funny, exciting mystery will delight readers who may weep with envy of the feasts that are ordinary fare for M. Pamplemousse...

Farfetched and frothy, this fourth in the detective series featuring Aristide Pamplemousse finds the corpulent Surete officer turned gastronomic investigator for Le Guide disguised as a blind man at Chateau Morgue, a health spa near the Pyrenees. Pamplemousse despairs of satisfied appetites for a fortnight, but his bloodhound Pommes Frites discovers kilos of sausage, and then Aristide himself discovers an affectionate English manicurist. While it becomes apparent that the regime at the spa covers some other activities, including murder and blackmail, not until the inspector rigs up a flying camera, utilizing helium and Pommes Frites's inflatable kennel hung with black silk lingerie, is the mystery of Chateau Morgue resolved. Though readers may have trouble following Pamplemousse's intricate thought processes and understanding exactly what was going on at Chateau Morgue, Pamplemousse and his faithful hound are an appealing pair and offer an evening of civilized entertainment....

THE RENOWNED CREATOR OF PADDINGTON BEAR SERVES UP AN INTRIGUING NEW CASE FOR MONSIEUR PAMPLEMOUSSE AND HIS FAITHFUL BLOODHOUND POMMES FRITESIn an attempt to improve the lacklustre reputation of France's most prestigious culinary guide in America, the director of Le Guide persuades Monsieur Pamplemousse to write a play for the guide's benefit, complete with a walk-on part for faithful bloodhound Pommes Frites.Emphasising the importance of a healthy lifestyle to decrease one's carbon footprint, Monsieur Pamplemousse tries to impress the well-renowned American food-critic Jay Corby, but disaster strikes on opening night and Corby storms out in a rage. It's vital he is found before he ruins everything for Le Guide – luckily, star sniffer dog Pommes Frites, is hot on the trail of their only lead: a flimsy undergarment belonging to an exotic dancer they came across in a state of undress before the start of the show ...

Called to a Provençal film set to vouch for the gastronomic authenticity of direct Von Strudel's latest Biblical advertising extravaganza (what was on the menu at the Last Supper?) restaurant inspector Monsieur Pamplemousse is surprised to find his sleuthing skills, acquired during a stint at the Sûreté, considerably more in demand. Exploding strawberries, adulterated cast food and sundy other mysterious occurences all point to a saboteur or, at best, an infuriating prankster on set. But when the star of the sequence of perfume adverts, Brother Angelo, a heavy-metal heart-throb who has been cast against type as Jesus Christ, seemingly vanishes into thin air, it is clear matters have gone beyond a joke.Hot on the scent of Brother Angelo, Monsieur Pamplemousse and his faithful hound Pommes Frites must treat some of the stoniest and most unexpected by-ways of sun-soaked Provence, a trail that tests to its limits even Pamplemousse and Pommes Frites combined powers of...

The celebrated creator of Paddington Bear creates another recipe for adventure for his heroes Monsieur Pamplemousse and Pommes FritesMonsieur Pamplemousse is looking forward to a well-earned break in the South of France courtesy of his employer – all he has to do is collect a piece of artwork for Le Guide's Director. But when his contact fails to show and a dismembered body is washed up outside the hotel, the holiday mood evaporates.As Pamplemousse struggles with the case (and with modern technology) his ever-faithful bloodhound Pommes Frites is on hand offering proof why, during his time with the Paris Sûreté, he was one of their top sniffer dogs.

As a reward for services beyond the call of duty, Monsieur Pamplemousse, Sûreté sleuth turned food inspector, finds himself ensconced at Les Cinq Parfaits, the world-renowned hotel-restaurant on the shores of Lac Leman. Sadly, his ever-faithful hound, Pommes Frites, is denied access to the dining room, but nothing daunted, he sniffs his way to his own gastronomic nirvana – with dire consequences for all concerned.However, Pommes Frites' problem is soon overshadowed by the disappearance of Jean-Claude, the Parfait brother responsible for the establishment's justly famous Soufflé Surprise. The outlook is grave: the country's oil supply depends on the goodwill of another guest, an Arab whose anger at being deprived of his favourite dessert bodes ill for the motorists of France. Once, again, the indefatigable Monsieur Pamplemousse comes to the rescue and in no time at all is up to his eyeballs in trouble – especially when he encounters...

When Le Directeur suggests Le Guide's food inspector Monsieur Pamplemousse take a brief jaunt to sample the gastronomy of Rome, Pamplemousse knows the offer is too good to be true. But when the only string attached seems to be that on the return journey he escourt the Director's schoolgirl niece Caterina from her Rome convent school to her uncle's Paris home, Monsieur Pamplemousse begins to relax. Until, that is, he sees the schoolgirl in question ... and spots her every-present shadow, an Al Capone-lookalike whose hostility Pamplemousse senses even across a crowded restaurant car.However, it is when the Rome-Paris Express pulls into Gare de Lyon and his charge apparently disappears into thin air that Pamplemousse really begins to worry. Especially when he discovers the lustrous Caterina is the daughter of one of Sicily's most powerful mafiosi, a man who will not take the loss of his cherished daughter at all kindly...