It has been over a year since I picked up one of Michael Bond's delightful Paddington stories. This week, I corrected this by reading the "Paddington Goes to Town" - the eighth book in the series.

For those who do not know, Paddington is an anthropomorphic bear from darkest Peru, adopted by the Brown family in London. He means well, but he has a knack for getting into and out of trouble.

Like its predecessors, this volume contains seven stories. The bear serves as a wedding usher but accidentally gets the bride's ring stuck on his paw; his grumpy neighbor, Mr. Curry, coerces Paddington into caddying for a golf contest; Paddington spends two stories in the hospital trying to visit Mr. Curry after his injury on the golf course; the silly bear searches for the perfect ornament to enhance the garden of his friend Mr. Gruber; he sets out singing carols, but ends up as a waiter at a private party; and he causes confusion when Londoners mistake him for a busker and drop money in his hat.

Paddington confuses himself and others because he takes everything literally and responds accordingly. He assumes his role as a wedding usher is to 'ush anyone who speaks. The hospital receptionist refers to a psychiatrist as a "head-shrinker," which makes little sense to the bear. He is confused by the phrase "Vladimir's beside himself." When asked if he has experience waiting, he misunderstands that the lady wants to know if he has ever waited on tables and describes the time he had to wait for a bus.

"Paddington Goes to Town" is another delightful collection from Michael Bond.