PHOTOS: Bookseller keeps Paris plush with teddy bears
Women walks past a closed restaurant filled with teddy bears placed by Philippe Labourel, who wants to be named 'Le papa des nounours', 'Teddy Bear father', in Paris, Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021. Philippe Labourel, a bookshop owner, situated in the Gobelins district of Paris, has been lending out oversized plush creatures since October 2018, Since the pandemic cut short public life in the French capital last year, the bookseller's bears have been spotted sitting at a bus stop and in shops to remind customers of social distancing rules. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) 
Men wearing protective masks walk in front a closed restaurant filled with teddy bears set up by Philippe Labourel, who wants to be named 'Le papa des nounours', 'Teddy Bear father', in Paris, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021. Philippe Labourel, a bookshop owner, situated in the Gobelins district of Paris, has been lending out oversized plush creatures since October 2018, Since the pandemic cut short public life in the French capital last year, the bookseller's bears have been spotted sitting at a bus stop and in shops to remind customers of social distancing rules. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) 
Teddy bears placed at tables in Les Deux Magots restaurant, placed by Philippe Labourel, who wants to be named 'Le papa des nounours', 'Teddy Bear father', in Paris, Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. Philippe Labourel, a bookshop owner, situated in the Gobelins district of Paris, has been lending out oversized plush creatures since October 2018, Since the pandemic cut short public life in the French capital last year, the bookseller's bears have been spotted sitting at a bus stop and in shops to remind customers of social distancing rules. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) 
Teddy bears placed at tables in Les Deux Magots restaurant, placed by Philippe Labourel, who wants to be named 'Le papa des nounours', 'Teddy Bear father', in Paris, Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. Philippe Labourel, a bookshop owner, situated in the Gobelins district of Paris, has been lending out oversized plush creatures since October 2018, Since the pandemic cut short public life in the French capital last year, the bookseller's bears have been spotted sitting at a bus stop and in shops to remind customers of social distancing rules. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) 
A woman walks in front of Backstage restaurant filled with teddy bears by Philippe Labourel, who wants to be named 'Le papa des nounours' 'Teddy Bears father', in Paris, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. Philippe Labourel, a bookshop owner, situated in the Gobelins district of Paris, has been lending out oversized plush creatures since October 2018, Since the pandemic cut short public life in the French capital last year, the bookseller's bears have been spotted sitting at a bus stop and in shops to remind customers of social distancing rules. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) 
A man walks past Backstage restaurant filled with teddy bears by Philippe Labourel, who wants to be named 'Le papa des nounours' 'Teddy Bears father', in Paris, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. Philippe Labourel, a bookshop owner, situated in the Gobelins district of Paris, has been lending out oversized plush creatures since October 2018, Since the pandemic cut short public life in the French capital last year, the bookseller's bears have been spotted sitting at a bus stop and in shops to remind customers of social distancing rules. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) 
A woman walks past a restaurant filled with teddy bears by Philippe Labourel, who wants to be named 'Le papa des nounours' 'Teddy Bears father', in Paris, Monday, Jan. 25, 2021. Philippe Labourel, a bookshop owner, situated in the Gobelins district of Paris, has been lending out oversized plush creatures since October 2018, Since the pandemic cut short public life in the French capital last year, the bookseller's bears have been spotted sitting at a bus stop and in shops to remind customers of social distancing rules. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) 
A woman walks past a closed restaurant filled with teddy bears set up by Philippe Labourel, who wants to be named 'Le papa des nounours', 'Teddy Bear father', in Paris, Monday, Jan. 25, 2021. Philippe Labourel, a bookshop owner, situated in the Gobelins district of Paris, has been lending out oversized plush creatures since October 2018, Since the pandemic cut short public life in the French capital last year, the bookseller's bears have been spotted sitting at a bus stop and in shops to remind customers of social distancing rules. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) 
Teddy bears in a closed restaurant placed by Philippe Labourel, who wants to be named 'Le papa des nounours', 'Teddy Bear father', in Paris, Monday, Jan. 25, 2021. Philippe Labourel, a bookshop owner, situated in the Gobelins district of Paris, has been lending out oversized plush creatures since October 2018, Since the pandemic cut short public life in the French capital last year, the bookseller's bears have been spotted sitting at a bus stop and in shops to remind customers of social distancing rules. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) 
A closed restaurant filled with teddy bears set up by Philippe Labourel, who wants to be named 'Le papa des nounours', 'Teddy Bear father', in Paris, Friday, Jan. 29, 2021. Philippe Labourel, a bookshop owner, situated in the Gobelins district of Paris, has been lending out oversized plush creatures since October 2018, Since the pandemic cut short public life in the French capital last year, the bookseller's bears have been spotted sitting at a bus stop and in shops to remind customers of social distancing rules. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) 
A teddy bear placed on a traffic roundabout by Philippe Labourel, who wants to be named 'Le papa des nounours', 'Teddy Bear father', in Paris, Wednesday, March 3, 2021. Philippe Labourel, a bookshop owner, situated in the Gobelins district of Paris, has been lending out oversized plush creatures since October 2018, Since the pandemic cut short public life in the French capital last year, the bookseller's bears have been spotted sitting at a bus stop and in shops to remind customers of social distancing rules. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) 
Philippe Labourel, who wants to be named 'Le papa des nounours', 'Teddy Bear father', carries a giant teddy bear to a bar in Paris, Wednesday, March 3, 2021. Philippe Labourel, a bookshop owner, situated in the Gobelins district of Paris, has been lending out oversized plush creatures since October 2018, Since the pandemic cut short public life in the French capital last year, the bookseller's bears have been spotted sitting at a bus stop and in shops to remind customers of social distancing rules. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) 
Philippe Labourel, who wants to be named 'Le papa des nounours', 'Teddy Bear father', carries a giant teddy bear into a bakery, in Paris, Wednesday, March 3, 2021. Philippe Labourel, a bookshop owner, situated in the Gobelins district of Paris, has been lending out oversized plush creatures since October 2018, Since the pandemic cut short public life in the French capital last year, the bookseller's bears have been spotted sitting at a bus stop and in shops to remind customers of social distancing rules. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) 
A woman runs past the Hotel du Nord filled with teddy bears, in Paris, Monday, March 8, 2021. Philippe Labourel, a bookshop owner, situated in the Gobelins district of Paris, has been lending out oversized plush creatures since October 2018, Since the pandemic cut short public life in the French capital last year, the bookseller's bears have been spotted sitting at a bus stop and in shops to remind customers of social distancing rules. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) 
A woman walks past eddy bears in a bar set up by Philippe Labourel, who wants to be named 'Le papa des nounours', 'Teddy Bear father', in Paris, Wednesday, March 3, 2021. Philippe Labourel, a bookshop owner, situated in the Gobelins district of Paris, has been lending out oversized plush creatures since October 2018, Since the pandemic cut short public life in the French capital last year, the bookseller's bears have been spotted sitting at a bus stop and in shops to remind customers of social distancing rules. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) 
Philippe Labourel, who wants to be named 'Le papa des nounours', 'Teddy Bear father', carries a giant teddy bear to a bar in Paris, Wednesday, March 3, 2021. Philippe Labourel, a bookshop owner, situated in the Gobelins district of Paris, has been lending out oversized plush creatures since October 2018, Since the pandemic cut short public life in the French capital last year, the bookseller's bears have been spotted sitting at a bus stop and in shops to remind customers of social distancing rules. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) 
Children look through the window of a cafe at teddy bears set up by Philippe Labourel, who wants to be named 'Le papa des nounours' 'Teddy Bears father', in Paris, Wednesday, March 3, 2021. Philippe Labourel, a bookshop owner, situated in the Gobelins district of Paris, has been lending out oversized plush creatures since October 2018, Since the pandemic cut short public life in the French capital last year, the bookseller's bears have been spotted sitting at a bus stop and in shops to remind customers of social distancing rules. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) 
Philippe Labourel, who wants to be named 'Le papa des nounours', 'Teddy Bear father', stands next to a giant teddy bear in a bar, in Paris, Wednesday, March 3, 2021. Philippe Labourel, a bookshop owner, situated in the Gobelins district of Paris, has been lending out oversized plush creatures since October 2018, Since the pandemic cut short public life in the French capital last year, the bookseller's bears have been spotted sitting at a bus stop and in shops to remind customers of social distancing rules. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
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PARIS (AP) — A bookshop owner has found a way to keep people in Paris feeling plush during the depressing days of the coronavirus pandemic: giant teddy bears.
Philippe Labourel has been lending out oversized stuffed animals since October 2018. Since the pandemic cut short public life in the French capital last year, the bookseller’s bears have been spotted sitting at a bus stop and in shops to remind customers of social distancing rules.
“Don’t ask me why I did it in the first place, but I decided to loan the bears everywhere to make people smile,” Labourel said.
At up to 2.5-meters-tall (over 8 feet), the teddy bears cause people to stop and stare in wonder.
Labourel’s bookshop and “bear cave,” is situated in the Gobelins district, in the south of Paris. The bear-giver maintains a mysterious air to add to the unexpected delight that comes with encountering one of his cuddly creatures.
He said he has acquired many more bears since last year, but will not say from where or how many make up his soft arsenal.
“Since the virus, I’ve been giving them out to many areas across the city,” Labourel said. “I’m trying to give children a little bit of joy. It’s a huge success.”
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