Hooray for Winnie!: The Real Bear Who Inspired Pooh

Did you know that Winnie-the-Pooh was inspired by a real bear? At once an homage to A. A. Milne’s verse and a tribute to a certain Canadian black bear cub, this illustrated collection of original poems is destined to enchant.

Writing in the style of A. A. Milne’s poetry, Patricia Toht pays tribute to a real bear named Winnie who was beloved by Milne’s son, Christopher Robin, and went on to inspire one of the most cherished characters in children’s literature. In a beautiful and evocative series of poems, the author tells the remarkable story of the cub’s rescue by a young army veterinarian, her adoption by a Canadian Army regiment, her voyage to England to support the troops as mascot during WWI, and her ultimate meeting with four-year-old Christopher Robin at the London Zoo (resulting in the child’s renaming his own stuffed teddy bear). Now the bear’s tale is brought to life in verse, illustrated with classic charm and captivating detail by Canadian artist Anna Bron. An afterword by the author highlights the connections between certain poems and A. A. Milne’s familiar writings.