Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear (Caldecott Medal Winner)($11.43Value)

Description

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! K-Gr 3—This sweet tale of the black bear that inspired the legendary children's book character Winnie-the-Pooh will resonate with readers. In the framing story, a mother tells her son, Cole, a bedtime tale about how veterinarian Harry Colebourn, a young Canadian soldier on his way to train and fight in Europe during World War I, stumbled upon a baby black bear that he bought off a trapper at a train depot. Colebourn named the bear Winnie, short for Winnipeg, a gentle reminder of his hometown, and took the bear with him to England. Winnie quickly became the mascot of his unit. But when the time came to ship out to France for combat, Colebourn left his beloved pet in the capable hands of the London Zoo. Later, Milne and his son, Christopher Robin, visited the London Zoo and Christopher Robin took an immediate shine to Winnie, developing an unusually strong bond with the animal and even playing with her in her enclosure. The boy imagined all sorts of adventures for Winnie, which became the basis for the now-famous stories written by Milne. Washes of muted colors convey a cozy cheeriness that imbues the book with warmth and comfort, while occasional interjections from young Cole add to the fun. Blackall's characters are rosy-cheeked and expressive, while Winnie is curious and whimsical. 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. VERDICT Children everywhere will enjoy this tale for years. A must-have.—Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA A New York Times Notable Children's Book of the Year Winner of the 2015 Caldecott Medal Horn Book Fanfare NYPL 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year Booklinks Lasting Connections Bookpage Best Book of the Year * "The sum total is as captivating as it is informative, transforming a personal family story into something universally resonant."― Horn Book, starred review * "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 * "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 * "The book strikes a lovely, understated tone of wonder and family pride...[Sophie Blackall] proves that she's equally imaginative at chronicling straight-on reality too." ― Publishers Weekly, starred review "Gorgeously illustrated...[a] delightful telling"― New York Times Book Review "[An] inspiring text...Blackall's breathtaking watercolor illustrations demand to be examined up close, and Winnie's face is as expressive as the humans'."― School Library Connection "This tender tribute will inspire a new generation of Winnie fans—for the books and the historic bear."― BookPage Praise for  Farmhouse: A 2022 KIRKUS BEST CHILDREN’S BOOK A 2022 SLJ BEST BOOK A HORN BOOK FANFARE A 2022 PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BEST BOOK A 2022 BOOKPAGE BEST BOOK A 2022 WASHINGTON POST BEST BOOK A 2022 NYTIMES BEST ILLUSTRATED BOOK AN NPR BEST BOOK OF 2022 A 2022 BOOKLIST EDITORS’ CHOICE GOOD HOUSEKEEPING BEST KIDS’ BOOKS OF 2022 2023 ALSC NOTABLE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN 2023 CCBC CHILDREN’S CHOICES LIST 2023 BANK ST COLLEGE BEST BOOKS *" A lovely, tender reimagination of people in a long-past time and place." ― Kirkus, starred review *" A love letter to the joys of country living and family life as well as the importance of treasuring the past and all its stories." ― School Library Journal, starred review *"The tale’s strong sense of place undergirds Blackall’s witness to the way environments change over time and stories survive long after material objects disappear, in a thoughtful, expertly executed work that looks simultaneously forward and back ."― Publishers Weekly, starred review *" Blackall’s illustrations are everything here , incorporating wallpaper, fabrics, and other items scavenged from the house melded together with ink, watercolor, gouache, and colored penci