Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear

Reader Response: I was not a reader as a child. Reading took forever and I often had to re-read things just to understand what I had just read. When I discovered finding Winnie I sat in the middle of the children’s section of the book store and read the whole thing. The book is about a little bear the ended up inspiring the Winnie the Pooh which were books I loved as a kid. The story starts with a mom telling her son a story about a man who finds a bear while on a train ride through Canada heading to serve in World War I. The interaction between the mom and the boy reminded me of my own kids and how they love to ask questions reading to them or telling them stories. The middle of the book the little boy takes over telling the story in his own words and reveals that the bear in the book is the inspiration for the famously popular Winnie the Pooh. The end was my favorite part (and I encourage you to read it to find out what happens). The last pages of the book are actual pictures of Winnie and the man who found her as well as pictures of the real Christopher Robin from the Winnie the Pooh series. This book is great for kids and adults too!

Evaluator’s response: The story is told in a unique way with the mom telling her son a bedtime story. This is something many kids and adults can relate too and I think is the hook for the book. What is brilliant is that in the middle of the story the son takes over telling the story and it gives young readers an example of how they can create their own stories just like the little boy in the book. The story itself takes the reader across Canada and the Atlantic Ocean to England. The ending is a great surprise for the reader and really makes the story special. The illustrations are well done but the coolest part are the old photos and documents at the very end showing what the characters really look like.

Teacher’s Response: This is a wonderful book that can be used in many subject areas. There are many opportunities to expand the information in the book and can be easily incorporated in to lessons. For History and Geography teachers the book takes place during World War I and the main characters are traveling across Canada and eventually end up in England. Science Teachers can use when talking about animals and can expand it to Biomes as well. The book talks about the London Zoo which has a wonderful website and links to resources. English Teachers can have students read the book then write their own ending to the story then compare written work to how the book actually ends. This book provides so many opportunities for the classroom.

Literacy Coach’s Response: This book provides many opportunities for students as they read. Whether a beginning reader or more advanced reader this book would be a great tool for teaching literacy. The story provides opportunities to expand vocabulary, make inferences about what will happen, and there is a great extension where students can practice writing their own ending to Winnie’s story. For all readers the book can lead to reading and exploring other subject such as history, science, geography, and can be used as in introduction to The Winnie the Pooh series which this book inspired.