Drawing inspiration from his childhood, Tomas Kohoutek tells a fascinating children's adventure story with Living with Teddy: MISSING. Growing up in the city of Hradec Kralov in Czechia, Tomas and his brother had a rough childhood witnessing their parents' deteriorating marriage. After his parents' divorce, Tomas, his brother, and his mother moved into their stepfather's farm in the mountains, where Tomas soon developed an affinity for his new surroundings. A trip to the nearby forest ends with Tomas losing his beloved dog, Dusty, but he gains a new friend — a teddy bear, Teddy. Throughout his anxiety attacks and poor health, Teddy remained a constant in Tomas' childhood. He forges a bond with Mother Nature and, as an adult, finds his way to New Teddyland in America. He forms a new family in America but still misses his childhood friend, Teddy.

Living with Teddy: MISSING is an imaginative adventure that offers valuable lessons on preparing children for life's unexpected challenges. Tomas Kohoutek finds an ingenious way to relate his life experiences from childhood with a flavor of magic and friendship that is bound to connect with young readers. This book encourages readers to use their imaginations and creativity to deal with life's challenges and adversity. Children aren't immune to anxiety, ill health, family conflicts, or numerous other external pressures as they grow up. But having furry friends lets them feel that they aren't alone and there will always be someone to love and care for them. Kohoutek showcases this brilliantly with this enthralling adventure tale. I absolutely loved the book, and recommend it to children, young adults, and even adults who are still kids at heart.

Have you ever wondered why we all have Teddies living with us? Living with Teddy: MISSING, by Tomas Kohoutek, recounts the story of Tomas and Teddy, a Wild Teddy Bear from Teddylandia. When Tomas, his brother, and his mom moved to a small Czechia town after a heartbreaking divorce, Tomas discovered a real Wild Teddy in the Black Forest near his stepfather's farm. Tomas was so frightened when he found a Teddy while picking blueberries, as the Teddy was being chased by some armored foxes. Teddy told Tomas how the foxes had chased the Teddies from their homeland, Teddylandia, and that is why they live with humans, helping them face their fears and cope. He also told Tomas about New Teddylandia, where the Teddies have made a new home for themselves. When Tomas becomes sick and has to stay in hospital, Teddy goes with him and teaches Tomas and the other children about Mother Nature and the importance of caring for yourself and nature. Eventually, Tomas grew up and went to boarding school, leaving Teddy behind. One day, when he came home for the weekend, Teddy went missing. Tomas started traveling all over the world to try to find his old friend.

Living with Teddy: MISSING by Tomas Kohoutek is a fun children's book filled with beautiful illustrations that add to the whimsical atmosphere created by the author. Though the book is aimed at children aged 8 and older, it is not a fairytale just for fun. The author uses the medium of the story to convey specific lessons that he learned through his childhood in Eastern Europe, dealing with two divorces and the loss that accompanied them. By telling his life story in easily read and understood language, he teaches children about the dangers of internalizing negative feelings and how to deal with them healthily and constructively. What he highlights most is the healing power of nature, how taking time away from things that cause us anxiety and spending that time in nature can help your body heal. This is a delightful story and will likely find many fans among young and older readers.

It’s okay to be afraid. We’re all afraid of something. All you need is something to hold onto to get you through the tough times, the most frightening parts of life. That’s what Tomas had to learn at a very young age. In Tomas Kohoutek’s Living with Teddy: MISSING, the author shares his story, telling it in the age-old format of storytelling, so young readers can learn from someone passionate about stuffed teddy bears and the power of healing they share. But it isn’t just the stuffed teddy bear that dominates this story; it's the journey Tomas and Teddy made to the enchanted black forest, where the wild teddy bears lived, the Fera Teddy Ursus, ancestors of the domesticated stuffed teddy bears we all love so much. This is a coming-of-age story of a young boy whose life was shattered by a family breakup and illness. But, with the help of Teddy, young Tomas found his way and gained strength in the adventure of a lifetime.

Tomas Kohoutek’s middle-grade novel, Living with Teddy: MISSING, is a heartfelt story full of encouraging words of wisdom from Mother Nature herself. The story is told in the first person. After all, it is the author’s tale. It’s the type of story you want to settle back with in a comfy chair and enjoy with someone special, a caregiver who loves to read stories to you, and, of course, your favorite stuffed teddy bear. The language is simple for young readers to easily follow, but the narrative can be intense at times. The story is a great tool for young and old alike, a deep message that will help anyone survive this complicated world in which we live. It discusses difficult issues like family conflicts, moving, hospitals, and surgery, all with the intent of providing the young reader with valuable life skills about emotions, bravery, and, despite all the fears and difficulties life presents, the overall beauty of the world. An intensely, sublimely powerful read.

Living with Teddy: MISSING, written and illustrated by Tomas Kohoutek, follows the journey of a child (who shares the author's name) from his early life in Czechia to a quest to find his missing stuffed animal. Family and health issues do not diminish the wonder and solace Tomas finds in nature, forming a bond with a bear named Teddy and learning of a mythical teddy bear kingdom. Guided by Mother Nature, who imparts wisdom on mindfulness and environmental conservation, Tomas embarks on a cross-country motorcycle journey, meeting talking teddy bears and learning about the concept of New Teddylandia. Years later, Tomas's daughter reignites his quest, leading to brushes with bears resembling Teddy and the proposal of a worldwide investigation into teddy bear disappearances. The arrival of Teddy enriches their lives, prompting them to invite him to stay forever.

“I was simply having the time of my life. Supported by my team of fun advisors, I gained the health, confidence, and strength to finally live the way I’d always wanted.” Living with Teddy: MISSING by Tomas Kohoutek is a thoughtful, sweet story that takes some really difficult things to talk about and somehow makes them easier to discuss. There are always pieces of an author in their work, and, as a parent, I recognize Kohoutek's stamp on this book. That said, what my younger reader saw was a boy looking for meaning beyond what Tomas has had to endure. Divorce, medical procedures, loss, and a new stepfamily in a new country are all used as fuel for what comes. Kohoutek does an excellent job of depicting a boy and then a man who breaks two barriers: the first being generational inherited trauma and the second being the fantasy veil. The combination serves up relatability and entertainment value, with a side of some well-crafted line art sketches, for a delightful read. Very highly recommended.