Oh dear—Mona has lost her Teddy, and she has no idea where he’s gone. Maybe he’s hiding. Maybe he’s off on an adventure of his own. Today, we’re meeting Maisa Samman, the author behind Where is Teddy?, a story that blends childhood wonder with a bit of mystery and a lot of heart.

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Welcome to this edition of Newsgram!

In the previous edition of Newsgram we talked about Mathematics and how math is everywhere and I want to reflect on that concept for minute because finding a lost item or tracing your steps to find something you’ve lost is kind of like solving a little puzzle; listing clues, testing possibilities and working it out one step at a time. For Maisa Samman, that idea became the spark for Where is Teddy?

Maisa Samman – And it was for a math class where we had to come up with a children’s story based on mathematical concepts and prepositions. So that was really where I got the idea from, but really, you know, obviously the idea came from, you know, my own childhood experience of losing a favorite toy and really trying to find it.

It’s a great concept because who can’t relate to that? Whether it’s your keys or your phone or something else we can all relate to the idea of trying to find something we’ve lost. Maisa has taken it to a new level and put a kind of enchanted spin on it with a lovable teddy bear that keeps moving around.

Maisa Samman – Little Mona, you know, she’s lost her Teddy. She’s going on an adventure in her home, you know, there’s no limits for her. She’s going into every single room. It’s trying to recall every single place that she would possibly have left him. But, you know, he just keeps running off. And, you know, even as an adult, sometimes, you know, you’ve got to retype your steps and like, where did I put this? Like, where do I go? I have to go back in this room and go back in that room and trying to find what I’m looking for.

It’s a feeling that’s almost universal—the mix of frustration, curiosity, and hope.

Back in 1995, Pixar released its very first entirely computer-animated feature film, Toy Story. It wasn’t just groundbreaking technology—it was the first time so many of us stopped to wonder: what really happens to our toys when we’re not looking? That simple idea planted something magical in our imaginations. Suddenly, it didn’t seem so far-fetched that a toy wasn’t just misplaced…maybe it had a life of its own, and it simply wandered off on an adventure of its own.

Maisa Samman – Yeah, I guess I was low key inspired by Toy Story. Right. But like, you know, like, do my toys come alive when I do sleep? Like, I’ve got to keep an extra close eye on them. Like, you know, where do they go during the night or I’m not around? Like, are they really moving when I’m not around? Like, you know, so I sort of brought that to life. Like, you know, she doesn’t even remember where she put Teddy. So maybe he’s the one that’s like walked off.

She says what began as a twelfth-grade math project eventually grew into a children’s book incorporating mathematical concepts. Over time, it also became a project that helped her heal. Finishing the book wasn’t just about checking off a box on her bucket list—it was a way to reclaim a sense of purpose and joy during an incredibly difficult time.

Maisa Samman – I used to work in child care. So I would take this draft book and I’d read it to my students in child care. And they loved it. And then I’ve just recently gone through a separation and it’s a very stressful separation. So I was like, you know what, this is on my bucket list. I’ve always wanted to see my name on the shelf of the bookshop. You know, like I’ve always had this dream of publishing this book. So I focused my energy, my positive energy into creating this book and finally publishing it. And it’s just an amazing sense of achievement. And I really want to share this achievement with other people, other people that are struggling, single mums or anyone that’s going through a difficult time. Focus your energy on something positive that you’re proud of and something that you created, which is what I did.

Yea, there’s no hiding that when you read the book. The cover is very simple. Just the words “Where is Teddy?” And a series of question marks but inside it’s very different. That is where the real magic happens.

Maisa Samman – I just hope that it invokes this sense of mystery, adventure, curiosity, the just the fact that they have that option that they can join along with the sentences and they can join in. For example, if you’re reading it individually to a child or with a classroom, if you’re a teacher, like, you know, they can all join in and then that you’ve got that, you know, every all the children joining in in unison, reading this book and it is just, you know, wanting to know where is he? Where is he hiding?

Can you hear that?  A whole classroom full of children gathered around for story time and yelling Where is he? Where is Teddy Hiding??? I love that. 

Maisa Sammon – And I’m just proud of Mona in my own book because she’s doing it on her own. She’s searching for it on her own without any assistance.

A bit of hide and seek, a little detective work and some basic math to try and uncover the mystery behind this cheeky little, mischievous bear and its owner, little Mona. 

Maisa Sammon – Mona is actually one of my auntie’s names. She’s very special to me. Um, and I’ve always liked that name and I found that very, it’s like a simple, very feminine name and it’s just cute. And I just thought, you know, I want to sort of, you know, name my character after my auntie. So that’s where I got the name idea from.

Just another element that makes this story feel so personal and so full of heart. If you have little ones, three years or older at home or know anyone that would enjoy Where is Teddy? by Maisa Samman it’s now available pretty much all over the internet. 

Maisa Samman – So xlibris.com.au or xlibris.com or I also have my own social media, which is made by Mesa. So M A D E underscore B Y underscore Mesa, M A I S A. So you can find me on Instagram too. You can order directly from me or from the xlibris website.

If you didn’t write that down don’t worry about it. We have links for you in the show notes and if you’ve ever misplaced something important, then you’ll definitely be able to relate to Mona’s search. That will do it for this edition of Newsgram from Webtalkradio.com. Thanks for listening.

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