A #1 New York Times Bestseller and Winner of the Caldecott Medal about the remarkable true story of the bear who inspired Winnie-the-Pooh.
In 1914, Harry Colebourn, a veterinarian on his way to tend horses in World War I, followed his heart and rescued a baby bear. He named her Winnie, after his hometown of Winnipeg, and he took the bear to war.
Harry Colebourn's real-life great-granddaughter tells the true story of a remarkable friendship and an even more remarkable journey--from the fields of Canada to a convoy across the ocean to an army base in England...
And finally to the London Zoo, where Winnie made another new friend: a real boy named Christopher Robin.
Before Winnie-the-Pooh, there was a real bear named Winnie. And she was a girl!
* "Little ones who love Milne's classic stories will be enchanted by this heartening account of the bear's real-life origins."-- Booklist, starred review
* "The sum total is as captivating as it is informative, transforming a personal family story into something universally resonant."-- Horn Book, starred review
* "A perfect melding of beautiful art with soulful, imaginative writing, this lovely story, penned by Colebourn's great-great granddaughter, is ideal for sharing aloud or poring over individually."-- School Library Journal, starred review
Lindsay Mattick, Harry Colebourn's great-granddaughter, is the vice-president of an award-winning public relations firm. Based in Toronto, she has shared Harry and Winnie's story around the world.
Sophie Blackall is the illustrator of many acclaimed picture books, including Finding Winnie and Hello Lighthouse as well as a number of beloved novels, including the series Ivy and Bean and The Witches of Benevento. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Target Age: 4-8
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pub Date: October 20, 2015
0.6" H x 10.0" L x 10.2" W
56 pages
hardcover