(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Sophie Blackall. A mother tells her son the "real story" of the bear that inspired Winnie-the-Pooh: the boy's great-great-grandfather, Captain Harry Colebourn (author Mattick's great-grandfather), bought Winnie in a train station and made her a mascot for his Canadian Army battalion during WWI. A deft blend of historical research and gentle, heartwarming fiction enhanced by Blackall's art. "Colebourn Family Archive" appended.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Sophie Blackall. A boy's mother tells him the story of his great-great-grandfather, owner of a baby bear named Winnie, and the circumstances that led to another boy, Christopher Robin Milne, befriending Winnie--inspiring that boy's father to write some children's tales. Mattick, the storytelling mother in this book, embellishes her family's history with evocative, playful language, matched by the period warmth of Blackall's carefully composed images.

Reviewer: Thom Barthelmess | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2015

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Jonathan D. Voss. A real bear plays a part in Winnie-the-Pooh's origin story. Military veterinarian Harry Coleburn bought a bear cub on a whim; Winnie became Harry's constant companion. When Harry was deployed, he gave Winnie to the London Zoo, where she made an impression on young Christopher Milne. Descriptive text provides the story's essentials; watercolors portray the unusual story with a mix of realism and humor. Websites. Bib.

Reviewer: Lolly Robinson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2015

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Robbin Cuddy. Eleven previously published tales about Pooh and his pals make up this entertaining collection, which features bright cartoon illustrations and large typeface. Although this hefty book has little literary merit, it's better written than many of Disney's other efforts, and the familiar characters and their small-scale adventures--celebrating a birthday, playing school, moving Tigger to a new home, etc.--are appealing.

Reviewer: Anne St. John

(4) 4-6 Liberally illustrated with Shepard's (colorized) drawings and a few archival photos, this handsome volume describes the circumstances that led to the writing of Milne's four children's books. Filled with biographical notes and information about the toys that inspired the characters, the text has appeal for both children and adults. However, the lack of bibliographic material limits its usefulness as a reference source.

Reviewer: Anne St. John