Thursday, May 14, 2015

Winnie: The True Story of the Bear Who Inspired Winnie-the-Pooh

Silly old bear


Walker, Sally M. Winnie: The True Story of the Bear Who Inspired Winnie-the-Pooh. New York : Henry Holt and Company, 2015

Plot: Harry Colebourn, a veterinarian during World War I, found an orphaned black bear for sale during a train stop. He bought the bear, claiming she would be the mascot for the military training camp in Quebec. Winnipeg, eventually called Winnie, quickly endeared herself to the men on the camp. When they were called to the other side of the Atlantic, the cub went with them. However, due to the dangers of the war, Winnie was settled at the London Zoo. She remained friendly, often letting children feed or even ride her. One particular child could not stop talking about her, so his father began to write adventures about the little bear...

Genre: Animals, History, Picture Books

Reading Level: Grades 1-4

Similar Titles: Mr. Ferris and His Wheel, Winnie the Bear: The True Story Behind A. A. Milne's Famous Bear

Personal Thoughts: A short book on the real history of a fictional bear. The text uses illustrations to highlight the whimsey of the story, but provides photographs to remind readers of the actual events. Walker provides further information about Coleborn, Milne, and Winnie at the end of the story.

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