Please Look After This Bear

Today's the 50th Anniversary of the publication of A Bear Called Paddington.

This was one of the books my parents read to me when I was a small kid. I had a Paddington Bear stuffed animal with a suitcase, and the hat and the toggle coat with the label "Please look after this bear.". I don't think he had a sandwich.

Which is perfect, because the whole series of books was basically about an animated stuffed animal, not a anthropomorphized bear, like the Berenstein Bears.

Anyway, I can't remember anything about the books except the opening scene of Paddington in the station. Might be time to read them again.

Anyway, I found out about this anniversary from the Google logo, which has Paddington on it today. Now, I wonder what their googlogo rulez are. Why does Paddington merit a day? Is it just what people bring to them? Or are there very strict rules and a calendar planned years in advance? Does anyone know?

What books did your folks read you when you were really little? And did you have toys?