Winnie's Great War

Everyone has heard of Winnie-the-Pooh, but not everyone knows about the real Canadian bear who lent him her name. This is a wonderful tale of courage and friendship, for fans of Michael Morpurgo.

Come on a heart-warming adventure, inspired by the journey undertaken by an extraordinary bear called Winnie during World War One.

From her early days with her mama in the Canadian forest, to her travels with the Veterinary Corps across the country and overseas, Winnie has a remarkable wartime story to tell. And when she meets a little boy called Christopher Robin Milne in London Zoo, he loves her so much that he names his teddy bear Winnie-the-Pooh in her honour.

Sophie Blackall's wonderful black and white artwork brings Winnie to life and will capture young readers' imaginations.

The author, Lindsay Mattick, is the great grand-daughter of Captain Harry Colebourn - who originally rescued Winnie as a cub - and the story contains entries from his real wartime diaries from WW1. The book also includes a selection of artefacts from the Colebourn Family Archives. The result is a one-of-a-kind exploration into the realities of war, the meaning of courage, and the power of friendship, all told through the historic adventures of one astonishing bear.

“Oh my, how I love Winnie's Great War . Only the magical team who brought us Finding Winnie could have created this poignant and heart-warming novel. An incandescent celebration of friendship and courage, this perfect little book is one to cherish. A triumph.”

A work of undeniable charm. - The New York Times Book Review

Oh my, how I love Winnie's Great War. Only the magical team who brought us Finding Winnie could have created this poignant and heart-warming novel. An incandescent celebration of friendship and courage, this perfect little book is one to cherish. A triumph. - Katherine Applegate, Newbery Award-winning author of The One and Only Ivan

A heartwarming read-aloud. - School Library Journal, starred review

A charming addition to Pooh lore that will send readers happily back to the Hundred-Acre Wood. - Kirkus Reviews

Well-detailed descriptions carry the reader along on the trip, and Colebourn and Winnie's strong friendship, rendered believably and movingly, is the emotional heart of the story. - Publishers Weekly

Lindsay Mattick (Author)

Lindsay Mattick, the great-granddaughter of Captain Harry Colebourn, grew up thinking of Winnie-the-Pooh as her own great-grandbear. She has shared Winnie's story as a radio documentary, spearheaded an original exhibition, and traveled to the UK to commemorate Harry and Winnie's experience in World War I. She works at Narrative Public Relations, and lives with her family in Toronto, Canada.

Josh Greenhut (Author)

Josh Greenhut is a consultant and writer. He lives in Toronto with his family.

Sophie Blackall (Illustrator)

Sophie Blackall is the illustrator of many picture books, including Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear - winner of the prestigious Caldecott Medal. She lives with her family in New York, but keeps an eye on lighthouses for sale, just in case.

Everyone has heard of Winnie-the-Pooh, but not everyone knows about the real Canadian bear who lent him her name. This is a wonderful tale of courage and friendship, for fans of Michael Morpurgo. Come on a heart-warming adventure, inspired by the journey undertaken by an extraordinary bear called Winnie during World War One. From her early days with her mama in the Canadian forest, to her travels with the Veterinary Corps across the country and overseas, Winnie has a remarkable wartime story to tell. And when she meets a little boy called Christopher Robin Milne in London Zoo, he loves her so much that he names his teddy bear Winnie-the-Pooh in her honour. Sophie Blackall's wonderful black and white artwork brings Winnie to life and will capture young readers' imaginations. The author, Lindsay Mattick, is the great grand-daughter of Captain Harry Colebourn - who originally rescued Winnie as a cub - and the story contains entries from his real wartime diaries from WW1. The book also includes a selection of artefacts from the Colebourn Family Archives. The result is a one-of-a-kind exploration into the realities of war, the meaning of courage, and the power of friendship, all told through the historic adventures of one astonishing bear.

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