When us kids were "babies", my grandma started the tradition of getting us our first official dish set, complete with matching plate, bowl, cup and even flatware. I had Holly Hobbie. My baby bro? Paddington Bear.
I had been familiar with a few of his stories before the dish set came along (at 3-4 years old), but it wasn't until after my grandma sent the dish set that we started reading more of his books. They were always heartwarming. And my heart always went out to that poor little bear abandoned in his raincoat with his suitcase, with nothing more than a little note and a jar of marmalade. He's been special to my family ever since.
(When my sis came along, her dish set was just a generic pink teddy bear.)