Book Review 2: Finding Winnie, a true story of the world’s famous bear

Book: “Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear”

Author: Lindsay Mattick

Genre: Children’s Book

Illustrator: Sophie Blackall

We came across this award-winning book at the library and were very excited to grab it, given it had been on our reading list for a long time. It is such a sweet book, and for those who haven’t read it, here’s a summary that will get you to pick up a copy the next time you go into your local library.

The story begins with a young boy named Cole, who is told a story about his great-grandfather, Harry Colebourn. The book also tells the true story of the bear that inspired the beloved character Winnie-the-Pooh.

Finding Winnie is a true account of Harry Colebourn’s experiences during World War 1. He was a veterinarian and a soldier in the Canadian Army. As he was heading to a training camp to fly out on duty, he came across a hunter selling a bear cub after killing the mom bear. He bought the cub for $20, and it unofficially became the mascot for his regiment. He goes on to name her Winnie, after his hometown, Winnipeg. Sadly, Coulbourn was deployed to France and had to make a tough decision to donate Winnie to the London Zoo.

There, a young boy named Christopher Robin Milne encounters Winnie and develops a deep affection for her. He visits Winnie often and is even allowed inside her enclosure. Christopher loves her so much that he names his teddy bear after Winnie. All of this ultimately inspires his father, A.A. Milne, to create the character of Winnie-the-Pooh. 

The illustrations by Sophie Blackall are incredible, and it beautifully captures the innocence of the story and the rawness of the encounter. The book brings together themes of friendship, love, and sacrifice that resonate with young minds. “Finding Winnie” was published in 2015 and has won the Caldecott Medal for its illustrations. 

Grab a copy at your local library or read it for free at archive.org.