The third set of questions discusses the topic of possession. In the story, both Eddie and the giant bear find teddies that are not their own. This event brings up the issue of what can be rightfully yours, and anyone can claim something lost. Children should be asked what they would do if they found something that didn’t belong to them, as this becomes an ethically based discussion. They should think about whether it would make a difference in what they would do, if they wanted the item they found or not. Is it ever okay to talk to a stranger? If yes, why? (Remind them that when they first met their teacher, he/she was also a stranger.) His Eddy and the Bear trilogy (which began with the much-loved Where's My Teddy in 1992) has sold nearly four and a half million copies and was made into an BAFTA award-winning animated television series. Original questions and guidelines for philosophical discussion archived here. Edited June 2020 by The Janet Prindle Institute for Ethics. The above video may be from a third-party source. We accept no responsibility for any videos from third-party sources. Please let us know if the video is no longer working.

Has anyone here ever been told not to talk to strangers? (Make sure they are reminded that they still should not talk to strangers.)Age 3-7 A funny, rhyming story about a giant bear who’s sobbing because he’s lost his teddy. Tiny Eddy has lost his, too, and they come together in their joint search for their cuddly bears. There’s lots to talk and laugh about in this engaging picture book. Eddie has lost his teddy and goes off into the woods to find it. He notices a giant teddy who is too big to cuddle with. He then realizes the giant teddy belongs to a giant bear who has found Eddie’s teddy. The giant bear and Eddie grab their teddies and rush home to cuddle with them in their beds. Before reading aloud together, read it through to get the tune of this highly patterned story. This will help you to read it aloud expressively to build enjoyment and suspense.Talk about the front cover together before you start. What do children think the story will be about? Join in In the book, Eddie and the bear both find teddies that do not belong to them, and keep searching for their own teddy.

The final question set revolves around the idea of what students believe a “safe place” is. Not everyone is going to feel safe in the same environment based on their experiences. For example, someone may feel safe walking through a shopping mall, but another person who had previous experience being lost in a mall may not. In the story, Eddie was afraid of being in the forest alone, yet the bear was not because it was his home. This proves that what may feel safe for one person may not feel safe for another. Children can then reflect on their own experiences of what they view as a safe place or what they once viewed as a safe place but no longer do. Questions for Philosophical Discussion Feeling Safe

The fourth question set focuses on strangers. Who is considered a stranger, if and when you should talk to a stranger and whether it’s always dangerous to speak to a stranger are a few of the ideas that should be discussed. The majority of children will have been told at some point in their lives to never talk to strangers, and although this is true in most situations, some situations require you to talk to a stranger. For example, the first day of school requires meeting and talking to strangers who are not threatening. Using the pictures, children can tell the story in their own words, perhaps wearing a bear mask, see below. Talk together Talk about the story together. What do children think it was about? Who was scared and why? How were Eddy and the bear similar but different? Watch the story Eddie was afraid of the “scary” forest, and it was not necessarily safe for him to be there all alone. The bear lives in the forest, and for the bear; it is a safe place. In 2000 Jez created Hug - a powerful and touching book of only three words about a baby chimpanzee called Bobo who loses his Mom. Oprah Winfrey raved about it on her show when she chose it for her recommended reading list while Richard Curtis (the writer and director of Four Weddings and a Funeral) selected it as one of his ‘Best Books’, calling it ‘classic family drama which holds up well next to Jez’s other masterpieces.’ Bobo went on to star in thee more classics; Tall ( which along with Hug won the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Book Award) Yes and Play. The series has sold almost 3 million copies.