November Library Pick of the Month

The KES library pick of the month for November is Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick, illustrated by Sophie Blackall. Selected in recognition of Remembrance Day, this book is much more than a typical children’s picture book, it’s engaging and informative for all readers. A unique feature is its primary source material—photographs, documents, and a diary—revealing the story of a young bear cub who became the mascot of a military platoon during the First World War. The bear was named “Winnie” after Winnipeg, Canada. When A.A. Milne’s son, Christopher Robin, encountered Winnie at a London zoo, it sparked the creation of the beloved Winnie the Pooh character. 

This book captures Winnie’s significance to the platoon’s morale, provides a glimpse into First World War history from a unique perspective, and illustrates the fascinating ways inspiration can evolve to shape art and stories over time.