Paddington Bear Author Dies at 91

London — Michael Bond, creator of marmalade-loving children’s favorite Paddington bear, has died, his publisher said Wednesday.

HarperCollins said Bond, 91, died at his home the previous day after a short illness.

Ann-Janine Murtagh, executive publisher of HarperCollins Children’s Books, said the duffel-coated, Wellington boot-wearing bear “touched my own heart as a child and will live on in the hearts of future generations.”

The furry adventurer first appeared in A Bear Called Paddington in 1958 — a stowaway from “Darkest Peru” who arrived at London’s Paddington train station wearing a sign saying “Please look after this bear. Thank you.”