Friday, January 16, 2015

WIN A WINNIE!-Canada Only-Ends Jan. 31/15

Do you remember reading or having the story read to you of Winnie the Pooh? Did you know he actually was a real bear? Here is the true story of Winnie: The True Story of the
Bear Who Inspired Winnie-the-Pooh.
Written by Sally M. Walker.


When Harry Colebourn looked out of the train window, at the White River station in Ontario, Canada August 24th 1914, he had no idea he would meet a bear. He couldn’t believe what he saw: a bear at the station! The train’s stop would be short, but Harry had to get off and see the bear for himself.

Harry hurried onto the platform and sat nearby. "What are you doing here little bear?" The cub climbed into Harry's lap and licked his chin. "She's for sale," said the man holding her leash. "I didn't see her until after I shot her mother. I don't want her, I can't care for a bear."

Harry could care for a bear; he was a veterinarian! "How much?" Harry asked. "Twenty Dollars." The train whistle blew, and Harry decided. He paid the man, picked up the cub, and carried her onto the train.

Harry's friends asked a million questions. But the captain asked the loudest."Harry what in the world were you thinking?"
"That I had to save her." The cub rubbed her back against the captain's legs. The captain patted her head.
**One day when Winnie was about 11 years old, a little boy visited her at the London, Ontario zoo where Harry had placed her in 1919, knowing she would be happiest in the home she knew best. "Oh Bear!" cried the boy whose name was Christopher Robin. He hugged Winnie and fed her milk. Christopher's father was a well known author, A.A. Milne, and all the way home he heard all about Winnie. That night at bedtime it was story time and Christopher changed the name of the bear in the book to Winnie. As time went on, the stories turned into a book. Winnie then became more famous.**

Sadly, Winnie died on May 12, 1934 at the age of 20. According to Milne, Christopher Robin gave the name "Pooh" to a swan he once knew. When the swan flew off and made its home elsewhere, the name remained behind, unused. Therefore it was available to combine with "Winnie" when Christopher Robin needed it.Christopher renamed his teddy bear, Winnie the Pooh.

There is a statue of Harry and Winnie in the London zoo.
To read the rest of the story, you will have to win or buy the book.I remember this book from when I was small. Its nice to hear the true story though.

List of bookstore links:

http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/winnie-the-true-story-of/9780805097153-item.html?langtype=4105
Indigo

http://www.amazon.ca/Winnie-Story-Inspired-Winnie-Pooh/dp/0805097155 Amazon.ca

http://www.mcnallyrobinson.com/9780805097153/sally-m-walker/winnie#.VLfyZ5UtC9I McNally
Robinson (Winnipeg)

http://www.bookmanager.com/1317857/?q=h.ts&tsf=y&or_qs=Walker,%20Sally%20M&or_opt=au
Kidsbooks
(Vancouver)

http://www.mabelsfables.com/ Mable's Fables (Toronto)

One lucky person will win a copy of this book by entering this giveaway. Sorry everyone, Canada only for this one. Good luck everyone

11 comments:

Unknown said...

My favorite is The love between the soldier and the bear

Annie1 said...

My favourite memory re Winnie the Pooh is having my mom read books to me when I was a kid. Mom had such a soft spot for Eyore! I'll never forget those times!

Thanks

Carey Hurst said...

I loved Winnie the Pooh as a little girl, my favorite memory was the toys I made out of paper and kept them with my book. Something I will do with my toddler when he gets a little older.

kathy d said...

My favourite memory reading Winnie the Pooh is reading by flashlight to the kids at the cabin

Sue2Sueper said...

I love Eeyore. Had a blow up one for the kids it was over 3 feet tall. Much fun.

Judy Cowan said...

My favourite memory was my mom reading it to me while I snuggled my Winnie the Pooh stuffed toy I got from my Aunt when I was born. (Judy Cowan)

pickgal said...

I loved reading Winnie as a child. I had a set of 3 books and remember looking at all the pictures and falling in love with the characters.

Unknown said...

I like reading these books to my daughter, she always gets a kick out of Tigger.

flowerchild said...

My favorite memory is receiving a Winnie the Pooh board book set for my baby shower and reading and teaching her with them.

Flo said...

I read Winnie the Pooh books to my children when they were little. They had the Little Golden Books.
Florence C

Simmy said...

I had a small collection of Winnie the Pooh books as a kid :)