Winnie: The True Story of the Bear Who Inspired Winnie-the-Pooh by Sally M. Walker #winawinnie
Who could care for a bear?
When Harry Colebourn saw a baby bear for sale at the train station, he knew he could care for it. Harry was a veterinarian. But he was also a soldier in training for World War I.
Harry named the bear Winnie, short for Winnipeg, his company’s home town, and he brought her along to the training camp in England. Winnie followed Harry everywhere and slept under his cot every night. Before long, she became the regiment’s much-loved mascot.
But who could care for the bear when Harry had to go to the battleground in France? Harry found just the right place for Winnie while he was away—the London Zoo. There a little boy named Christopher Robin came along and played with Winnie—he could care for this bear too!
Sally Walker’s heartwarming story, paired with Jonathan Voss’s evocative illustrations, brings to life the story of the real bear who inspired Winnie the Pooh.
My most favourite book growing up was my copy of Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne. My Auntie gave me a a beautiful hardcover copy as a gift when I was just a tiny little thing. I’d spend hours reading it over and over. Now I am reading it over once again as bedtime stories for Keira, who also loves Winnie-the-Pooh.. which may be influenced by the fact that I decorated her room with a Winnie-the-Pooh Theme. I think most of us grew up with and treasured reading Winnie-the-Pooh, and some of you may have also shared the stories with your own children.
Winnie: The True Story of the Bear Who Inspired Winnie-the-Pooh by Sally M. Walker is a captivating true-story about the Bear that inspired the beloved story. The story mostly focuses on the special relationship between Harry Colebourn, a WWI Canadian Veterinary Corps soldier and a young orphaned cub.
The illustrations are fun with a vintage feel and go a long way towards making this a very special book. There are also real period photographs of Harry Colebourn, Winnie, and Christopher Robin included before and after the story.
I definitely recommend this title for Winnie-the-Pooh fans young and old!
Win it:
One Canadian Frugal Mom Eh reader will win their own copy of Winnie: The True Story of the Bear Who Inspired Winnie-the-Pooh by Sally M. Walker. Giveaway closes for entry on January 31, 2015 at 11:59 pm EST. See Giveaway Tools form for entry and T&C.
I didn’t know about this but it’s so interesting! I would love to learn more.
Hi Elizabeth,
Great post! Thanks for getting the word out on WINNIE! I love all the enthusiasm for Pooh and the real bear behind the stories. Thanks again 🙂
John
I loved Winnie The Pooh
Enjoyed reading it to my kids when they were little.
I had a small collection of Winnie the Pooh books in my room and I remember reading them every now and then!
I have memories of my mom reading Winnie-The-Pooh to me. Pooh has always been one of my favourite Disney characters!
definitely reminds me of my childhood and Christopher Robin
i remember being fascinated with this bear and his honey eating skills! 🙂
Been so long since I was a kid and we couldn’t afford books back then, so I don’t remember if I read it after checking it out at the library or where it was but watched the movie last year and cried, Winnie had it a little rough for a while!
Very vague memories..Probably the old cartoon.
I love Winnie The Pooh. I always look up look up Winnie The Pooh quotes. He was very wise!
loved being read to then, and reading it to the little ones now. thanks
I would love to win this book. Touches my heart how the soldier saved the orphaned bear and kept him all the way to England!.
My daughter has a few Winnie the Poo stories she likes to read, like Too Much Honey!
I have fond memories of curling up with Mom and reading about Winnie!
I never read the Winnie the Pooh story as a child .
I remember reading Winnie the Pooh to my children – thanks!
I don’t have a specific memory, but I remember enjoying the stories. My daughter loves stories with the “100 Acre Wood Friends”.
I remembering reading Pooh to my son when he was young and watching the movies.
yes i used to read it when i was a child
I remember reading the books in grade school!
I remember reading the Winnie the Pooh books with my niece.
I loved Winnie as a child and I was happy to pass Winnie down to my daughters, now they have the pleasure of passing Winnie to their girls, Winnie the Pooh is only the best!!
Loved reading to my children and now my grandchildren
I always loved the story as did my children. He is such an adorable bear.
I loves reading the book over and over as a kid
Winnie-the-Pooh is my first book when I was a kid.
Yes, my mom has a really cool old collection of Winnie the Pooh stories that she used to read to me and I loved curling up in our big orange velour rocking chair and reading them with her. Now she reads them to my children. The book is a collector’s item, I’m sure!
MY KIDS LOVED IT
I remember my dad buying me Winnie the Pooh books from the gas station when they had a promo going on. I still have all of them, and they mean so much to me!
I read Winnie to my twins and now I read them to my grandchildren <3 A real childhood classic!
I have fond memories of my Grandmother reading Winnie the Pooh to me and I look forward to the day I will continue the tradition and read them to my son.
I read Winnie the Pooh as a child, then, read it to my children, and now my grandchildren will be reading it soon too. Delightful books, fun fun fun!
I remember my parents reading Winnie the Pooh to me as a child and I read many of the books to my own kids. I have been a Pooh fan for decades. Now my daughter is keeping the tradition going and reading these to my grandson,
Reading Winnie-the-Pooh books under the blankets with a flashlight to the kids up at the cabin,awe those where the days
I remember reading the story of Winnie to my children before I realized that Winnie was a real bear from Winnipeg.
Perfectly timeless for all generations
I loved Winnie the Pooh books as a child and my mom would read them to me as bedtime stories. The books – both the stories and illustrations – are beautiful and I’m so pleased that Winnie is here to stay! 🙂
I remember curling up with my dad and him reading the adventures of pooh to me when I was little.
I read winnie the pooh books to my son, he really likes them. I havent had the chhancce to read this one thoug
Yes; I had read Winnie the Pooh and loved the book and the bear. My favorite part was when Christopher Robin would say so lovingly: ‘Silly old Bear!’
I read it to my daughter all the time.
Winnie the Pooh was a favorite growing up and I read it to my 3 children as well when they were small.
My children had the Little Golden Books with Winnie the Pooh stories that I read to them.
I had them as a child and loved them
Have always love Winnie the Pooh and his friends and passed it on to my own kids, books,stuffies! Such a classic!
I remember reading winnie the pooh books when I was little and I was always a fan of the bear and all the fun adventures he goes on.
My favourite memory of reading Winnie the Pooh was when I was in elementary school. I remember my grade 1 teacher reading it to us and I fell in love with all the characters.
I loved Winnie the Pooh when I was little, especially Eeyore. I nicknamed my twin girls Pooh and Piglet and decorated their nursery under the Pooh theme out of my ongoing love!
I have memories of reading Winnie the Poo to my children.
I loved watching the cartoon when I was young
IM TEACHING MY SON TO READ WIH WINNIE THE POOH
I read winnie the pooh stories to Sophie almost every night.
I remember reading Winnie The Pooh Books to our children when they were young. I now read those same stories to my grandchildren.
We have many Winnie The Pooh books, my children love to read them.
Fond memories of my own discovery of Winnie the Pooh and falling in love with that little bear, then of rediscovering him with my own children and now having the pleasure of introducing grandchildren to this wonderful, insightful little bear. To also be able to share the story of the real live Winnie who inspired the story would be awesome.
Excellent story to read to the Beavers ( Boy Scouts 5-7 years old ) at camp. I always loved the store of winnie the Pooh,
I have very fond memories of reading (and watching) Winnie the Poo when I was a little girl. It’s a wonderful classic.
Our daughter just love pooh bear!! Sleeps with him each night 🙂
I remember reading Winnie the pooh books with my best friend in the library
Reminds me of my little winnie the pooh bowl and cup set I had as a little girl! Would love to read this story to my kids.
It sure does remind me of being a kid and asking for a Winnie The Pooh bed set, and I would like to continue the tradition of the story, its such a great story!
I have memories of learning how to read with Winnie-the-Pooh books.