A real black bear inspired the adoration of young Christopher Robin for his stuffed toy. The bear was called Winipeg, Winnie for short, so named for the hometown of its owner, Canadian veterinary surgeon Harry Colebourn
To know the full story, turn to Winnie, by Sally Walker, a new picture book for 4-8 year olds…and of course, as in the best of children’s picture books, the adults are in for a treat as well.
In Winnie, you will learn that Colebourn left his bear at the London Zoo while serving in World War I France. When Christopher Robin would visit the zoo, he would cry ” Oh Bear!” And of course, it was his father, A. A. Milne, who would be 132 years old today, who bestowed literary immortality on our beloved Winnie the Pooh.
Something I learned from Winnie—and which I do my vert best to put into practice—
“It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn’t use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like “What about lunch?”
