Writer/Artist: Alan Henderson
Release Date: 11th April, 2015 (Edinburgh Comic Con)

Remember that scene in Toy Story 2 where we were treated to a flashback montage of Jessie being loved, outgrown and ultimately abandoned by her owner Emily, all set to Sarah McLachlan’s “When She Loved Me?” Remember the lump in our collective throats? Well, that’s the general feeling that Thread Bear and Other Stories is going for. A collection of short stories (poems, really) about lost and forgotten toys from creator Alan Henderson, the book features teddies, dolls, spacemen and tin robots, and has a sweetly upbeat tone to it that’s bound to raise a smile from even the most cynical of hearts.

It’s an undoubtedly charming collection, but may have limited appeal for older readers. Yes, there’s a touching sense of nostalgia in Henderson’s straightforward, colourful artwork and rhyming poem format – but it’s essentially a picture book, without any real story to speak of.  For readers with young children however, this will be an absolute treat, and I can very easily see this book being read to a wide-eyed youngster as a bedtime story.

In a world where children are increasingly turning to electronic gadgets and games for entertainment, it’s fantastic to read a book that champions imagination and the concept of not growing up too quickly. It may be a little rough around the edges, but the sentiment is truly admirable, and I can see a lot of parents, children and nostalgic grownups getting a great deal of pleasure out of this charming little collection of stories.  The book will be available at Edinburgh Comic Con, alongside Henderson’s other release, The Penned Guin: “Out and About” (review coming shortly!), and is well worth a look if you happen to be in Potterrow this weekend. 

The writer of this piece was: Craig Neilson (aka Ceej)
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