Dustin and St. Philip Bear

Kelly L. Green is editor of the Canadian Book Review Annual’s
Children’s Literature edition.

One day a package comes for Dustin. It is a St. Philip Bear (though it
looks like Rupert Bear from English children’s literature), made for
him by Mary Greig, because he was baptized in St. Philip’s Church.
Dustin can call him whatever he wants, and they become great friends.

This coloring book seems to be a church project, inexpensively produced
with black-and-white line drawings and dot matrix type. Its audience
would be children who are familiar with the Anglican church and who
might identify with the baptism story. The narrative has loose ends (who
is Mary Greig?) and assumes a familiarity with the Rupert stories. The
simple drawings, though not unattractive, are definitely amateurish. Not
a first-choice purchase.