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!

What's Inside

Praise

★ “Little ones who love Milne’s classic stories will be enchanted by this heartening account of the bear’s real-life origins.” — Booklist

★ “The sum total is as captivating as it is informative, transforming a personal family story into something universally resonant.” — The Horn Book

★ “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

★ “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

Winner of the 2016 Randolph Caldecott Medal

“Written by one of the descendants of the veterinarian that started it all. Add in the luminous artwork of Sophie Blackall and you’ve got yourself a historical winner on your hands.” – A Fuse #8 Production