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


1.      Bibliography

Mattick, Lindsay. 2015 Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear. Ill. By Sophie Blackall. New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780316324908

2.      Plot Summary

In this nonfiction picture book, Lindsay Mattick tells the true story of how her great-grandfather rescued a bear cub during World War 1. Her great grandfather, Harry, named the bear Winnie after his hometown, and became a mascot for his regiment in the Canadian army. Due to combat and traveling to France, Harry decided to take Winnie to live at the London Zoo to stay safe. Winnie then became the inspiration for A. A. Milne’s stories of Winnie the Pooh.

3.      Critical Analysis

Lindsay Mattick tells history but with warmth and intimacy by making it personal. This story is being told as a bedtime story which also highlights how stories are passed down through generations. However, through this story, readers get to learn a part of history.

 

Sophie Blackall’s illustrations are very detailed, which earned the Caldecott Medal. The drawings are soft and careful to be comforting but true to the historical accuracy of the story. The double page landscapes even help to enrapture where the story is while still being intimate with family storytelling. The switch between modern day to Harry’s experience gives the readers visual clues to guide them through the multiple timelines.

 

This book does a great job in blending history, family, and imagination. It is lengthy for a typical picture book, but the story and illustration should engage young readers.

4.      Review Excerpts

Charlotte Zolotow Award, 2016, Honor Book

Comstock Read Aloud Book Award, 2016, Winner, Ages 9-12

Cybils Awards, 2016, Finalist, Juvenile and Elementary Nonfiction

ILA Children's and Young Adults' Book Award, 2016, Winner, Primary Nonfiction

Randolph Caldecott Medal, 2016, Winner, Children (13-18)

Surrey Schools Picture Book of the Year, 2017, Winner

Starred Review from Booklist: “Little ones who love A. A. Milne s classic stories will be enchanted by this heartening account of the bear s real-life origins.”

5.      Connections

This book could be used to spark discussions about family history projects, encouraging children to ask their own relatives about stories passed down within their families. Giving students a chance to discuss this can promote individuality and confidence within themselves, especially in a diverse classroom environment. Pairing this to A. A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh would be great to show how fact and fiction can cross. This book can also be used in a history unit on World War 1 to highlight how unusual stories emerge through history.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Kareem Between

Image
  Bibliography Safadi, Shifa Saltagi. 2024. KAREEM BETWEEN. Minneapolis, MN: Salaam Reads/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers: ISBN 9781665905158 Plot Summary Kareem Between follows twelve-year-old Kareem Haddad, a Syrian American boy who often feels stuck between two parts of himself, his Muslim family’s traditions and the American culture he’s surrounded by. Written in free verse, the story shares his experiences with friendship, faith, and identity as he learns to navigate school, family, and stereotypes. Throughout the book, he begins to find peace and confidence in being Syrian-American. Critical Analysis Shifa Saltagi Safadi’s writing feels heartfelt and genuine. Through short, powerful poems, she lets her readers see into Kareem’s thoughts. All of his doubts, humor, and moments of courage. The free verse style fits perfectly, like reading pages from his journal. It allows the readers time to reflect on the emotions as they are happening without feeling heavy. What...
Read more

GOODNIGHT MOON

Image
  1.       Bibliography Brown, Margaret Wise. 1947. GOODNIGHT MOON. Ill. By Clement Hurd. New York: Harper & Brothers. ISBN: 9780064430173 2.       Plot Summary A bedtime story of a young bunny who says goodnight to everything around him. From familiar objects in his rooms to the stars outside. This story is simple, rhythmic with gentle repetition to create a comforting pattern to help ease children to sleep. 3.       Critical Analysis Margaret Wise Brown story is lyrical as it is built on repetition and rhythm which allows it to be soothing, mimicking a lullaby. It’s simple as it is just a child saying goodnight to objects, but it allows emerging readers to connect reading to their life.   Clement Hurd’s illustrations go back-and-forth from colorful scenes of the room to zoomed in, black-and-white sketches. This allows for a pause between the pages that reinforces that rhythm created...
Read more

This is Not My Hat

Image
1.       Bibliography Klasen, Jon. 2012. This is Not My Hat. Ill. by Jon Klassen. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN 9780763655990 2.       Plot Outline A small fish bravely steals a hat from a bigger fish thinking he can get away with it. The little fish brags about his hiding spot and how clever he is to the readers, but the illustrations say otherwise. Through the little amount of text and visual clues, a story is told about consequences and how a big fish gets his hat back. 3.       Critical Analysis Jon Klassen story is short of words but deceptive in that there is still a lot of storytelling to follow. The little fish is telling the readers about how great he was in stealing, but the visuals comically show the reader how unreliable the little fish is as a narrator. It allows the readers to understand how words don’t match reality as they unfold, creating both humor and suspense.   The...
Read more