Winnie's Great War

Book excerpt: 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.