The Real Winnie

The story of Winnie, the real Canadian bear that captured the heart of Christopher, son of A.A. Milne, and became immortalized in the Winnie the Pooh stories, is told against the backdrop of the First World War. In August 1914, a Canadian soldier and veterinarian named Lieutenant Harry Colebourn, en route to a training camp in Quebec, purchased a black bear cub in White River, Ontario, which he named Winnipeg. First a regimental mascot for Canadians training for wartime service, Winnie then became a star attraction at the London Zoo, and ultimately inspired one of the best-loved characters in children’s literature. For those many generations of readers who adored Winnie the Pooh, and for those intrigued by the unique stories embedded in Canadian history, this book is a feast of information about a one-of-a-kind bear set during a poignant period of world history. Today Winnie "lives on" at the London Zoo, in White River and in Winnipeg. Her remarkable legacy is celebrated in many ways – from statues and plaques to festivals and museum galleries.

"Once upon a time an anonymous teddy bear set off, from a factory in a north London suburb with a van-load of similar bears and other toys. His spectacular journey was to take him into the hearts of people of all ages, around the world and that is where we will join him first-in Acton where it all began." -Shirley Harrison, from the introduction The story truly does begin in Acton, England, at the Farnell toy factory where the hand-made mohair bear was born. This biography traces the steps of the actual stuffed bear from his creation to his final resting place in the Children's Center of the New York Public Library. Winnie-the-Pooh was brought to life as a loveable playmate flowing from the vivid imagination of Christopher Robin and introduced to the world by his father, A. A. Milne. Shirley Harrison uses original documents, photographs, and the diaries of the late Elliot Graham, caretaker to the bear for more than forty years, to give a glimpse into the hidden world of Winnie-the-Pooh and those whose lives he changed forever. Well-researched details flesh out the myths surrounding Winnie-the-Pooh's name, his journey to American, and his brief return to England. Filled with details of the real Christopher Robin, his mother, father, and the impact the stories had on their lives and illustrated with photographs of the people and places that brought the bear to life, this book chronicles the origins of one of the best-loved children's series in the world and focuses on the stuffed toy that started it all.

A picture book account of the true story that inspired the Winnie-the-Pooh classics follows the experiences of a World War I veterinarian and soldier who rescued a baby bear, made her his regiment's mascot and introduced her to Christopher Robin at the London Zoo.

With a gorgeously redesigned cover and the original black and white interior illustrations by Ernest Shepard, this beautiful edition of the beloved sequel to Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne, The House at Pooh Corner, is sure to delight new and old fans alike! Pooh and Christopher Robin’s escapades in the Hundred Acre Wood continue! Piglet, Eeyore, and other familiar friends encounter the energetic Tigger for the first time, whose bounce first, think later personality brings new excitement. With more Heffalump hunts and funny moments in store, each chapter is a new adventure!

A woman tells her young son the true story of how his great-great-grandfather, Captain Harry Colebourn, rescued and learned to love a bear cub in 1914 as he was on his way to take care of soldiers' horses during World War I, and the bear became the inspiration for A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh.

Winnie the Bear is the biography of a Canadian black bear adopted by Lieutenant Harry Colebourn and named after the city of Winnipeg. A kind veterinarian who was en route overseas at the beginning of World War I, Colebourn nurtured the young cub at training camps in Valcartier, Quebec, and on the Salisbury Plain. Appleby takes us on Winnie and Harry's journey and through the story of her own research, which is all the more fascinating for her family's connection to Harry Colebourn. Appleby's insights into the remarkable chain of events in Winnie the Bear's life reveal the bear's truly inspirational role in the creation of A. A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh books.

A delightful new collection of Winnie-the-Pooh stories, told in the style of A. A. Milne, that explores life before the Hundred Acre Wood. How did Christopher Robin meet his beloved bear? Did Pooh and his friends see any of London before they moved to the Hundred Acre Wood? These questions and more are explored in this charming new collection of stories. Each tale features a gentle adventure set in London or the countryside, and they include iconic locations such as Harrods, London Zoo, and the Natural History Museum. Pooh, Eeyore, and Piglet even make a new friend: Flo the house mouse. Written in the timeless style of A. A. Milne, with illustrations that are true to the spirit of the original drawings by E. H. Shepard. These sweet and comforting tales are perfect for both new readers and longtime fans.

A New York Times Bestseller This charmingly illustrated book explores the real landscape of the Ashdown Forest, A. A. Milne's inspiration for the Hundred Acre Wood, the magical realm in which Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends lived and played.