Many people don’t realize there was a real bear behind A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh. Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick tells the heart-warming story of the real bear Winnie-the-Pooh was named after.
The story begins with a Canadian veterinarian from Winnipeg, who was leaving home for the war (World War I). Along the way he purchased a bear cub from a trapper and named her Winnie to remind him of home. The bear became the mascot of the unit, but of course it couldn’t go the front with the troops. It was the bear’s final destination where Christopher Robin would meet and visit her, and eventually name his stuffed bear after her. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Charmingly illustrated, enhanced with real photos of the soldier, the bear, and a young Christopher Robin, and touches on so many themes — family, World War I, kindness, stories, and more — that Finding Winnie will be a book you’ll want to pass along through your family generations.
Wonderful picture book that we are happy to recommend as part of our Winnie-the-Pooh unit study!
Additional Resources
Winnie-the-Pooh: A Unit Study
Fun activities, downloads, and more.
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