• Age: 8 to 12
• Grade: 3 to 7

From the creative team behind the bestselling Finding Winnie, winner of the Caldecott Medal, comes an extraordinary wartime adventure seen through the eyes of the world’s most beloved bear

Here is a heartwarming reimagining of the real journey undertaken by the extraordinary bear who inspired Winnie-the-Pooh. Follow Winnie’s war adventure—from her early days with her mother in the Canadian forest, to her remarkable travels with the Veterinary Corps across the country and overseas, and all the way to the London Zoo, where she met Christopher Robin Milne and inspired the creation of the world’s most famous bear.

This beautifully told story is a triumphant blending of deep research and magnificent imagination. Infused with Sophie Blackall’s irresistible renderings of an endearing bear, the book is also woven through with entries from Captain Harry Colebourn’s real wartime diaries and contains a selection of artifacts from the Colebourn family archives. The result is a one-of-a-kind exploration into the realities of war, the meaning of courage and the indelible power of friendship, all told through the historic adventures of one extraordinary bear.

Lindsay Mattick is the great granddaughter of Harry Colebourn, and the author of the New York Times and Canadian bestselling picture book Finding Winnie, and the co-author of Winnie’s Great War, a finalist for the Governor General's Literary Award for Young People's Literature. She is also the cofounder and creative director of award-winning public relations firm Pomp & Circumstance. Finding Winnie has been translated into over 10 languages and was the winner of the prestigious Caldecott Medal in 2016. Her efforts to share her family story led her to spearhead an original exhibition in 2014, Remembering the Real Winnie: The World’s Most Famous Bear Turns 100, with Ryerson University, now on display at the Assiniboine Park Zoo. Based in Toronto, she has shared Harry and Winnie’s story around the world from the Lincoln Centre in New York to the House at Pooh Corner near the Hundred Acre Wood. She lives in Toronto’s Beach neighbourhood with her husband, Michael, and their two kids, Claudia and Cole. 

Joshua Greenhut is the author of more than fifteen books for children, including a number of Flat Stanley’s Worldwide Adventures. He lives in Toronto with his family and their dog, Millie.

Sophie Blackall is the illustrator of many acclaimed picture books, including Finding Winnie, for which she received the Caldecott Medal, one of the most prestigious children’s book awards in the world. Her artwork has also appeared in murals as part of the New York City MTA’s “Arts for Transit” program. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Lindsay Mattick's profile page

LINDSAY MATTICK, Harry Colebourn’s great-granddaughter, is the vice-president of an award-winning public relations firm. Passionate about making a difference in her own backyard, Lindsay is a board member for several non-profit organizations including Timeraiser, Artbound and Help Tank. Based in Toronto, she has shared Harry and Winnie’s story around the world.

SOPHIE BLACKALL is the illustrator of many acclaimed picture books, including Mr. and Mrs. Bunny—Detectives Extraordinaire! by Polly Horvath, The Mighty Lalouche by Matthew Olshan and The Baby Tree. Her artwork has also appeared in murals as part of the New York City MTA’s “Arts for Transit” program. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

WEB: www.sophieblackall.com

Sophie Blackall's profile page

JOSH GREENHUT is the author of more than fifteen books for children, including a number of Flat Stanley’s Worldwide Adventures. He lives in Toronto with his family and their dog, Millie.

Josh Greenhut's profile page

• Silver Birch Award Finalist
• Governor General’s Literary Award for Young People's Literature – Text

“A buoyant, thoughtful narrative with strong themes of friendship, courage, loyalty and kindness. . . . This engaging little novel would make a wonderful read-aloud in the classroom or at bedtime.” — Canadian Children’s Book News

“Oh my, how I love Winnie’s Great War. An incandescent celebration of friendship and courage, this perfect little book is one to cherish. A triumph.”
— Katherine Applegate, author of the Endling series and The One and Only Ivan

“Moving and imaginative, this extraordinary story of the most beloved of bears is beautifully conceived. The blend of truth, history and story is whimsical, winning and wonderful. I loved reading Winnie’s Great War: it made me laugh and it made me cry.” — Alice Kuipers, author of Me and Me and the Violet and Victor Series

“The spirit of Winnie-the-Pooh is captured beautifully in this retelling of the real bear’s adventures.” — Kallie George, author of the Heartwood Hotel series