Basic Information; Doubleday and Company, 1970, first edition, first printing. Text and photographs by Bill Binzen.
Condition: This is a first edition with no dust jacket. It is not an ex-library book. Binding is solid with all pages intact. There is moderate wear to edges, corners, and creases around spine, with some exposed board in the most worn places. Inside is very good with only small bits of foxing on a few pages that are barely noticeable. The book has no page numbers but is about 48 pages. Over all condition is between good and very good.
Content: Alfred, a small Teddy bear is bored when his children leave him and go to the lake. When he complains about never going anywhere, an insect asks what's stopping him from going off on his own, so he decides to go exploring. He walks out the door, past the family cat, into the back yard, where he sees a dandelion. An apple falls from the tree and almost hits him on the head. A friendly chipmunk asks what he'll do with it. After giving the apple to the chipmunk, Alfred climbs a tall flower and is able to see across the meadow to the woods, so he takes off across the meadow to find the woods, which 'Bears are supposed to like.' In the meadow he meets a fat spider, picks a daisy, and takes a ride on the back of a turtle. In the woods he meets a toad, and when it rains he takes shelter under a toadstool. Then it begins to get dark and he realizes he's lost. He hears something moving toward him and is afraid. Luckily for Alfred, it turns out to be Harriet, the family dog, looking for a rabbit. He climbs on her back and she takes him home. Facing each page of text is a full page color photograph showing the little bear and/or the creature or plant he is interacting with. The text is large and friendly to young eyes with lots of white space.
Sold in 2008. No longer available.