The My 1st Talking JCB range from Golden Bear has been awarded a Gold Award by  Practical pre-school. The Practical Pre-School Awards identify and reward excellence in educational equipment, childcare, books and toys. All products reviewed are suitable for children from birth to eight years old for use in professional childcare and educational settings. These include: private and state nurseries, pre-schools, playgroups, childminding settings, infant schools and after-school clubs.  Click here to find out more….

Children and their carers tested each product in at least two separate settings. This is what the testers said:

” They are absolutely brilliant! Robust, Colourful, moveable, portable durable and a definite favourite with all of the children. Their suitability for indoor and outdoor us makes the versatility of these toys even more apparent. Children played with them daily, finding them to be completely engaging and stimulating pieces. This lovely set of My 1st Talking JCB Toys, is large enough for small hands to enjoy. The children loved the different characters, and quickly learnt to repeat the words they say. A fabulous set which are cross curricular”.

Thank you Practical Pre-school magazine for such a fantastic award!

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We have tried for weeks to track down Hana, star of popular TV series Hana’s helpline, but she has just been too busy solving animal’s problems and providing them with emotional support. However we finally managed to talk to Hana and get an exclusive interview with the agony aunt duck. Read on to find out about her busy lifestyle and how she is coping with her new found fame!

An Interview with Hana’s helpline by Golden Bear

 1. [Golden Bear] What’s your typical day?

     [Hana] Every day is different except Betty and Owen usually have an argument about who gets to eat the last chocolate biscuit (Hana Laughs)

2. [Golden Bear] How did you start the Helpline?

    [Hana] I’ve always liked helping people and i wanted a job that i could do from home so i’d always be here when Francis came back from school

3. [Golden Bear] What is your favourite colour?

    [Hana] Duck Egg Blue

4. [Golden Bear] What is your favourite food?

    [Hana] Cream Quakers

5. [Golden Bear] When’s your birthday?

    [Hana] Two Little Ducks!. The Twenty Second of April!

6. [Golden Bear] When you’ve got a busy day in the office, how do you cope with Owen’s clumsiness?

   [Hana] I wear a crash helmet whenever he’s in the room!

7. [Golden Bear] Hana’s Helpline has become a ‘Quaking’ success overnight, how do you cope with your newfound fame?

   [Hana] Sometimes i get recognised in the street but never by Owen because he insists on wearing silly dark glasses and he can’t see a thing!

8. [Golden Bear] Have you ever had to sign an autograph?

   [Hana] Yes, but only because someone mistook me for Britney Spears

9. [Golden Bear] What music do you listen to?

    [Hana] I’ve always liked the ‘Ugly Duckling’ by Danny Kaye. Maybe your grandma and grandpa remember it!?

10. [Golden Bear] What’s your favourite film?

      [Hana] I like films that make me cry so anything with onions in it.

11. [Golden Bear] What star do you fancy and why?

      [Hana] It’s a toss up between Donald and Daffy Duck. They’re both gorgeous! (Hana blushes!)

 Golden Bear would like to say a big thank you to Hana for sparing us the time, as we know there are animals that need her more! Hana is a Duck with a heart of gold and a great personality who has been an inspiration to us all. Next time we have a friend or colleague with a problem we will all stop to listen! Thank you Hana and we hope to speak to you again soon.

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Hana’s Helpline is a series about a duck agony aunt and her duckling son, who help animals who need emotional support. It deals with the kind of social and emotional issues that real children experience at the age they first start going to school.

Golden Bear have some exclusive out takes from the Hana’s Helpline TV programme shown below. Including Ernie the Eagle with wind, Francis the Duck being silly , Muzzy being as quiet as a mouse and Rosie the Panda with the hicups! Only on the Golden Bear Blog!

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All aboard as Thomas and Friends bring you another exciting feature length DVD, The Great Discovery. Narrated by Pierce Brosnan, this totally new, never been seen before adventure is set to be released in the autumn and here at Golden Bear, we can’t wait.

Puff into new and unchartered territory with Thomas and Friends as they work to rebuild the newly discovered town of Great Waterton. As you’d expect, its all go on Sodar Island especially as there are a few mishaps along the way!

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Great news!!

The Charlie and Lola puppet show will be at Harrods on Saturday 30th of August and Sunday 31st of August! Click here for more information and to claim your free tickets! Golden Bear will be going so we hope to see you there!

Fans of Charlie and Lola were ever so excited when the loveable siblings made a special appearance in their very own puppet show. Touring shopping centres around the UK, the Charlie and Lola puppet show centred on the television episode ‘I will not ever, NEVER eat a tomato’.

For those of you who didn’t get to see the show, don’t worry Golden Bear have it here for you to watch over and over again!

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Here at Golden Bear we’re all very excited to get hold of Shaun’s bid for the Christmas Number 1 spot, ‘Life’s a Treat’. And it looks like the wait is almost over with Dancing Shaun the Sheep ready to bop away for the Christmas season.

Shaun’s theme tune, sung by Vic Reeves, is set to be released today and includes a range of extras to keep you entertained long into the New Year. Each copy of the single comes with a free Shaun the Sheep poster and several re-mixes including a karaoke version, so you can sing along too. The enhanced section of the CD has lots more to do - including a Shaun the Sheep game and picture gallery.

The video features Shaun and the gang having lots of fun in the Farmers house with some great dancing by Shaun, Bitzer and the flock! See if you can spot all of your favourite characters.

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Thomas the Tank Engine has been around for years and is as popular as ever. But how much to we really know about this lovable blue train and his friends? Where can we buy Thomas toys and when can we see the live show?Don’t worry, help is at hand – the ‘Golden Bear’ has the total guide to all things Thomas.

The best starting point to finding out more about Thomas and Friends has to be the Thomas and Friends website. Its jam packed with the latest Thomas news, games and more information about your favourite characters. The Tours and Events page is a really useful way of finding out when Thomas and Friends are coming to a heritage railway near you. Here at Golden Bear, we love the activities section where you and your children can enjoy hours of fun on the colouring pages and creating e-cards to send to family and friends.

This is also how I found out about the Thomas and Friends Live Show. Once again in 2008 Thomas and Friends is coming to a theatre near you with a new 90 minute musical extravaganza, Thomas Saves the Day. If you’d like to find out more about the live show please visit the Thomas and Friends website or, for ticket information, visit Ticket Master.

You could encourage your children to take along their Thomas and Friends toys to see the show. At Golden Bear we have a great selection of Thomas and Friends toys for all ages including a drive away talking Thomas. Check out our full range of Thomas and Friends toys at the Golden Bear website.
Wikipedia is another useful source of Thomas and Friends information. You can read all about the history of the Thomas the Tank Engine story and the television series. Also, there is some great Thomas trivia for you to enjoy. Did you know that Ringo Starr narrated the first few series of the original Thomas the Tank Engine Television programme? On the subject of the television programme, you can now view it online at the internet movie database or purchase the DVD from many good retailers.

And of course the great thing about a blog is you can add your own Thomas trivia and useful information sources you’ve found – just click on comments below!

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It has been revealed this week that Shaun the Sheep will take on the X-Factor winner in the race to be top of the chops this Christmas.

Shaun’s single, Life’s a Treat, has received great reviews and has already been tipped as the main challenger to the X-Factor franchise. Our favourite fun-loving sheep, who already has his own CBBC TV series, will also star in his very own animated promotions video.

Shaun the Sheep is the latest in a string of kid’s television stars to try for Christmas number 1. Kermit the Frog and Roland Rat both had Christmas hits and let’s not forget Bob the Builder built his way to the top spot in Christmas 2000 with Can We Fix It.

Here at Golden Bear we’re already big fans and are stocking up on Shaun the Sheep toys in preparation for the Christmas season. Why not stock up on Shaun goodies and show your support for this lovable sheep. Golden bear have a great range of Shaun the Sheep toys including the Shaun the Sheep bag at the Golden Bear website.

The release date hasn’t been announced yet but keep checking the Golden Bear blog for more exciting news about the Christmas single or visit the Shaun the Sheep website.

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Hana’s Helpline is showing extremely promising results in the children’s TV Ratings. Since it was aired on our TV screens it has become a popular choice with pre-school children and more and more people are tuning in to watch Hana give advice and help, to her friends.

Hana’s Helpline, shown daily on Milkshake at 07.20 – 07.30, has shown a steady increase in TV ratings day by day. In comparison with other popular children’s TV programmes shown at the same time, Hana’s Helpline is continually the second ‘most watched’ programme. A ‘ringing’ success for Calon TV!

Start Licensing have received an overwhelming response from the public congratulating them on producing a fantastic animated TV programme that children can relate to. Here are just a few testimonials received:

“I thought that my 6 year old son had passed the age of watching pre-school programmes, ‘till he saw Hana’s Helpline. He just ‘gets’ it; the social interaction, the empowerment, the problem solving and the humour. This is one of the few shows around that feels like it’s been tailor made for him! My 3 year old niece loves Rosie’s girlishness, sensible Francis, Ernie’s ‘bad boy’ elements and Owen’s humour. For her, it’s a reflection of life at playgroup.” Siwan – mum to Gruff aged 6.

“My children are aged 6 and 3 and are devoted fans of Hana’s Helpline. Both my daughter and son enjoy the animation for different reasons. My 6 year old daughter understands the clever messages behind the script and has made the emotional link of the benefits of having an agony aunt for the animal world. She has commented how lovely it is that the animals can call someone if they’re in trouble or if they need to talk about their problems. My 3 year old son just finds the puppetry very enjoyable and easy to follow. I find that they both have ‘laugh out loud’ moments throughout the programme and they adore joining in with the singing.” Marisa – mum to Caramai aged 6 and Iwan, 3.

“Firstly, well done to you all on making a truly original and brilliant kids TV show. I’m serious, its such a great idea and gently and smartly teaches some lovely life messages without being patronising or heavy handed. The production values are first class, I’m such a big fan as is Ruby my 3 year old. Owen The Owl is my favourite. Many thanks and well done at a time when there are some pretty bad things happening in kids TV this is a really good thing.”
Christian O’Connell – presenter of the Virgin Radio Breakfast Show and dad to Ruby, aged 3.

”As soon as the theme tune begins, Rhys is mesmerized. It is the longest time he sits still all day! He loves the different animal characters and because of its subtle educational messages, it is the one programme I don’t try and discourage him from watching.”
Emma – mum to Rhys aged 2 and a half.

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It’s official; we all love Shaun the Sheep! Due to the un-baaa-lievable success of the first series! Shaun returns to our television screens at the beginning of September with a fantastic new second series!! Tune into CBBC to see Shaun the Sheep set out on some new and exciting adventures.

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