This is an autobiographical tale of a teddy bear named Otto. Otto is a German-born teddy bear. His first memories are of being stitched together and being given to David, a Jewish boy living in Germany before WWII. David and his best-friend Oskar always play with Otto, using him for pranks, games and even teaching him to type on a typewriter. Life is a lot of fun for the Otto. However, one day, David starts to wear a yellow star on his jacket. He and his parents are soon carted away by men in leather coats and uniforms. David decides to give his dear teddy bear to Oskar. Many lonely days pass for Oskar and Otto. But even gloomier days soon arrive when Osakar's father is drafted into the army and the bombings start. One day, a sudden explosion sends Otto flying through the air and into the middle a raging battle-field. The teddy bear is spotted by a soldier, but the moment the soldier picks Otto up, they are both shot through the chest. Otto and the soldier, an American G.I., are taken away to a hospital. In hospital, the soldier keeps Otto by his side. When he recovers, he pins a medal on Otto's chest, saying that Otto saved his life, taking the brunt of the bullet. The story makes papers and Otto becomes a mascot of the soldier's regiment. The teddy bear is then taken to America and is given to a sweet girl called Jasmin, the soldier's daughter. But Otto's new home and happiness is once again brutally ended when he is snatched away by mean and violent street urchins, who hit and trample on him and throw him into a bin. Otto is then picked up by an antiques dealer and taken to his shop. Years and years go by, until one rainy evening, when a bulky man stops and carefully examines the shop window. The man recognizes the bear instantly buys him. It is Oskar, Otto's old friend. The story of Oskar, a German tourist and survivor of the war finding his teddy bear in America soon makes the papers. And the day after Otto's picture appears in the paper, Oskar's telephone rings: it is his old friend David. And so, the three friends finally reunite, sharing the sorrows and pains of war and living a peaceful and happy life together. Otto now keeps himself busy, typing the story of his life on David's typewriter. Children will become attached to this loving, innocent protagonist, and will naturally be interested in his life story. Tomi Ungerer deals with one of the darkest chapters of history and pulls off the challenge admirably. This tale will prompt reflection and important questions without causing undue fear.

湯米·溫格爾Tomi Ungerer

法國繪本作傢、插畫傢、玩具收藏傢，童書界的頑童與國王。1998年，兒童讀物聯盟（IBBY）將“安徒生大奬”這個代錶童書界終身成就的奬項頒發給他，以錶彰他對兒童文學做齣的偉大貢獻。

湯米·溫格爾於1931年齣生於法德交界的阿爾薩斯地區，在戰爭中度過瞭童年。青年時期，他曾在歐洲四處遊曆，靠設計櫥窗和平麵廣告為生。來到美國紐約後，他憑藉驚人的天賦很快在繪本界獲得瞭成功，並成為傳奇。

湯米·溫格爾在美國和歐洲都擁有廣泛的影響力，他是1992年美國名人傳記協會選齣的“500名影響力領袖”之一，也是歐洲委員會兒童文化與教育大使，還參與起草瞭《兒童權利宣言》。為他建造的博物館是歐洲十大博物館之一。

他的創作生涯從1960年代持續到現在，至今已齣版140多本書，作品被翻譯成近30種語言，他使用英語、法語、德語三種語言進行創作。“隻為自己心中的小孩創作故事”的他，超越瞭想象力的邊界，童真、幽默又深刻。如頑童也如大師，作品涉及身份認同、公正平等、愛與和平等主題，具有鮮明的個人色彩。已然成為現代圖畫書中的經典。有媒體評價“沒有湯米·溫格爾的童書界是不完整的”。

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所獲榮譽

·法國榮譽軍團勛章(2018年)

·德國巴伐利亞書奬(2017年)

·法國國傢榮譽勛章(2014年)

·美國插圖畫傢協會終身成就奬(2011年)

·法國斯特拉斯堡學院帕爾梅學院(2010年)

·法德柏林新聞奬和柏林學院奬(2008年)

·卡爾斯魯厄大學哲學榮譽博士(2004年)

·Erich Kaistner文學奬(2004年)

·被任命為歐洲理事會兒童和教育親善大使(2003年)

·法國榮譽軍團(2000年)

·歐洲文化奬(1999年)

·安徒生兒童文學奬(1998年)

·法國圖形藝術國傢奬(1995年)

·德意誌聯邦德國國防軍的命令(1993年)

法國榮譽軍團(1990年)

·Jacob Burckhardt奬，由歌德基金會頒發(1983年)

·法國藝術與藝術學院(1982年)

· Commandeur de la Legion d’Honneur, France (2018)

· Bayerische Buchpreis, Germany (2017)

· Commandeur de l’Ordre National du Mérite, France (2014)

· Lifetime Achievement Award, Society of Illustrators, USA (2011)

· Palme Academique, Academie de Strasbourg, France (2010)

· Franco-German prize for Journalism in Berlin and the Prize of the Berlin Academy (2008)

· Honorary Doctorate in Philosophy from the University of Karlsruhe (2004)

· Erich Käistner Literary Prize (2004)

· Named Goodwill Ambassador for Childhood and Education of European Council (2003)

· Officier de la Legion d’Honneur, France (2000)

· European Prize for Culture (1999)

· Hans Christian Andersen Prize for Children’s Literature (1998)

· National Prize for Graphic Arts France (1995)

· Order of the Deutsches Bundesverdienstdreuz Germany (1993)

· Legion d’Honneur France (1990)

· Jacob Burckhardt Prize, awarded by the Goethe Foundation (1983)

· Commandeur Aux Arts et Lettres, France (1982)