The Incredible Teddy Bear
A story about courage, connection, and the magic of love — even when it’s hardest to show.
About the Authors
Beckie Shellenberger is a writer with a deep love for theater and a background as a mental health case manager. Her lived experiences are the heartbeat of her writing, shaping stories with honesty and empathy. Casey is the original creator of the Incredible Teddy Bear, inspired by a light-up Batman teddy bear he grew up with. He is now tossing around the idea of writing his original adaptation, as his original vision vastly differs from his mom’s. He is now 19 years-old and remains an enthusiastic fan of the Colorado Avalanche and the Denver Broncos despite living in Pennsylvania.
A lifelong lover of theater and stories, Beckie is now creating companion tales and sequels to this book when she’s not baking cupcakes. Casey is working on a book of his own and may one day write his own original version of the teddy bear tale. Quick-witted and always ready with a laugh, he also enjoys riding the motorcycle he shares with his dad—named Mara Jade, after a certain Star Wars character.
About the Book
Thirteen year old Ted Hambleberger never expected a teddy bear to change his life. It was supposed to be a joke — a prank gift from his brothers to remind him how soft he is. But the moment Ted picks it up, something stirs inside him. The bear feels alive, its stitched eyes glinting like it knows the secret he is trying so hard to hide.
He cannot help loving it. He just wishes the world would let him love things without turning them into a reason to hurt.
Then the dreams begin — golden fields, gathering shadows, and a masked figure who seems to know exactly who Ted is and what he is running from. As the line between waking and dreaming starts to blur, Ted must face the truth his fears have been hiding: the greatest battles are not fought in the world around him, but within himself.
Moving, mysterious, and full of heart, The Incredible Teddy Bear is a story about courage, connection, and discovering that sometimes the very thing you are afraid to love is the thing that saves you.
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