Cool Book: Finding Winnie by Lindsay Mattick

Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear
Lindsay Mattick
​Illustrations by Sophie Blackall
 
Shopping for a holiday gift book? Meet the bear cub that lent her name to Winnie-the-Pooh! This family story is told by the great-granddaughter of Harry Colebourn, a young Canadian veterinarian who, in 1914, signed up to go to war with his Winnipeg regiment. At a break in the long train-ride east, Harry spots a trapper with a tiny bear cub and buys her for 20 dollars. Named Winnipeg for their hometown, Winnie becomes the soldiers’ beloved mascot and accompanies them to England on a troopship. When it’s time to leave for France, Harry must deposit Winnie at the London Zoo. There, years later, Christopher Milne meets the gentle bear. He’s allowed to play with her--his father, A.A. Milne, adopts Winnie’s name for his Pooh books. Blackall’s charming Caldecott-winning illustrations, inspired by E.H. Shepard’s originals, make Winnie irresistible--a six-page album offering photographs of Winnie, Harry, and the soldiers is a lovely bonus.

​2015, Ages 4 to 8

Check it out from your library using the library catalog. Donate to an improved Sebastopol Regional Library here.

Recommended by: Barbara Talcroft
Barbara Talcroft reviews children’s books professionally for childrenslit.com and for Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database.  She has a Master’s degree in International Children’s Literature.  She also has many years’ experience as a teacher.  Barbara is one of the founders of LANTERN and its past chairperson.

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