Finding Winnie-           

The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear

By Lindsey Mattick

Illustrated by Sophie Blackall
Published 2015

Awards-2016 Caldecott Medal Winner…..as well as…Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Books of 2015, Picture Books; Horn Book Fanfare List: Best Books of 2015, Nonfiction; The New York Times Notable Children’s Books of 2015, Picture Books;  Booklist Best Picture Books of 2015; Booklist Lasting Connections, 2015;  ALA Notable Books for Children 2016, Younger Readers; New York Public Library’s 100 Notable Titles for Reading and Sharing 2015; Children’s Books 2016 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, K–2;  2016 CCBC Choices–Historical People, Places, and Events

Looking at the long list of awards Finding Winnie has racked up-there is no doubt that Finding Winnie is an excellent choice for a read-aloud, especially for grades K-2— and especially because of its connection to the development of AA Milne's character, Winnie-the-Pooh. 

What makes this particular version of the story poignant, is that it is written by the great-granddaughter of the man, Harry Colebourn, who originally found the black bear cub and named her ‘Winnipeg’ (later shortened to Winnie, of course.)

Being the ‘true story’—and it is—makes this book a wonderful example of a narrative non-fiction. It would be an excellent mentor text for older students-grades 5 and up-who may be learning the craft moves for this particular twist on informational writing. The story also effectively moves back and forth between modern times and long ago, adding flashbacks. This writer’s move is worth examining in this mentor text for students who are ready for it.

How would a writer weave storytelling with true, informational facts?  Finding Winnie is a perfect example!  At the end of the narrative, the author also provides readers with some wonderful, old family photos of Winnie and Harry Colebourn, Winnie sitting with the Canadian Regiment for which she was the mascot, and a photo of Christopher Robin Milne with Winnie in the London Zoo and with his father, author AA Milne, looking on. 

Students may want to also research beyond this story to how AA Milne came up with his ideas about Christopher Robin and Winnie-the-Pooh and connect that information to this story.

By the way—many educators that I have talked to about this book/story did not know of the actual true Winnie that served as the inspiration for AA Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh.  

Did you?  ;-D

Book Talk

Finding Winnie starts out in modern times with a mother cuddling with her son at bedtime and the young boy begging to hear a story—the true story of ‘the bear’.

The mother begins to tell the story of a young Canadian veterinarian named Harry Colebourn who had a very special gift--a special way with animals.  He was eventually called to serve in the Canadian military in WWI. On his way to meet up with his regiment, he was at a train station when he saw an older man who looked like a trapper, with a bear cub. The trapper told Harry that the bear had lost his mother. Harry knew that the trapper would most likely mistreat the bear.

And even though Harry was heading to meet his army regiment and he knew in his head that he should walk away from this trapper and the bear cub, his heart told him to do something about it.

So he did. 

Some favorite lines: “Harry thought for a long time. Then he said to himself, “There is something special about that Bear.” He felt inside his pocket and said, "I shouldn’t.” He paced back and forth and said, “I can’t.” Then his heart made up his mind, and he walked up to the trapper and said, “I’ll give you twenty dollars for the bear.”

Whereas all the men in the regiment were thrilled to meet the bear cub, the colonel was not!  Harry had to do some fast talking, but was eventually able to convince the colonel to let the bear stay and be the regiment’s mascot. That is when Harry announced that her name was Winnipeg—named after their city from where the solldiers came. 

Winnipeg quickly became ‘Winnie’ and a favorite of all.  Harry trained her in many ways to behave and help out in ways that she could.  Soon the regiment was to be shipped to England to continue their training…..and somehow again, Harry managed to get permission to bring Winnie along, too.

Because of Harry’s veterinarian training, he was put in charge of the horses that would lead the regiment into battle.  Soon the regiment was preparing to leave for battle in France. Harry knew that it was no place for Winnie.  

Harry made arrangements for Winnie while he was to be gone.  He was able to place Winnie in the London Zoo, so that the zookeepers could watch over her properly until he returned.

**As a side story—while Winnie was at the London Zoo, a local author named Alan Alexander Milne (aka AA Milne) would take his son—named Christopher Robin Milne--to the zoo. Christopher Robin became friends with Winnie—and Winnie eventually became the inspiration for AA Milne’s character: Winnie-the-Pooh.

(It is so interesting to me how one story begins another!)

Harry Colebourn eventually did return to London after the war.  He saw how happy and content Winnie was in the zoo, so he left her there and returned to Canada with his story of Winnie, his memories and his photos.  Today at the London Zoo and in Winnipeg, Canada stand statues of Harry and Winnie.

Throughout the story—the little boy,(who happens to be name Cole after his great, great grandfather, Harry Colebourn), asks his mother questions and helps the story along.  The author used italics for the conversation between mother and Cole and normal font setting for the story she was telling.

Suggested Uses As a Mentor Text

Book Genre: Narrative Non-Fiction (historical)

Reading Workshop Strategies: Monitor and Correct,  Search for and Use Information, Summarize, Infer, Connect, Question, Boy Hook

Writing Workshop Strategies:  Informational Writing, Narrative Writing, Personal Narrative, Historical Informational Writing, Flashback

Lindsey Mattick’s Website: http://www.lindsaymattick.com/

Sophie Blackall’s Website:  http://www.sophieblackall.com/

Last Stop on Market Street  

by Matt de la Pena

Illustrated by Christian Robinson

Published 2015

Awards:  Numerous-Incredible-Major! 2016 Newbery Award Winner, 2016 Caldecott Honor Winner,  2016 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Winner , AS WELL AS-

–New York Times Notable Children’s Book of 2015 –Wall Street Journal Best Children’s Books of 2015 –NPR Best Books of 2015 –Boston Globe Best of 2015 –A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year –A Winter 2014-2015 Kids’ Indie Next Pick –Finalist for the E.B. White Read Aloud Award –BookPage Best Picture Books of 2015 –Horn Book Best Book of 2015 –Atlanta Parent Best Books of 2015 –Raleigh News & Observer Best Children’s Books of 2015 –Miami Herald Best Children’s Books of 2015 –2015 Horn Book Summer Reading List –Scholastic Instructor “50 Best Summer Books” –School Library Journal’s Top 10 Latin Books list –Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Lit “Best Multicultural Books of 2015” –Chicago Public Library’s Best of the Best Books 2015 –NYPL’S 100 Books for Reading and Sharing

To say that Last Stop on Market Street is an award winner on many levels is the understatement of the year!  If you need more convincing that this, indeed, is an exceptional book, I don’t know what it would be!

Since I’m a ‘picture book fanatic/junkie’ , the fact that a picture book won the Newbery this year is very thrilling!  Double the fact, that I advocate for using picture books as mentor texts-this is heavenly to me!!

Last Stop on Market Street would be an excellent read-aloud for all students of all grades levels.  The character development and relationship between Nana and grandson is one that many students can relate to. One of the many themes of the book—to respect all people no matter what their circumstance- is one that we would hope to give all of our students at all ages.

Last Stop on Market Street is also an outstanding example of ‘small moment’ or ‘seed’ writing. The story takes a seemingly mundane event—riding a city bus to a destination—into an experience exposing multiple stories of the different people who are on the bus who interact with each other during that small moment.

Last Stop on Market Street would especially be an outstanding mentor text to use for older students (grades 3-8) who are studying writer's craft. de la Pena’s writing is multi-layered with inferences and meaning which model for the young writers how to take a reading audience beyond the text. de la Pena’s use of words and manipulation of ‘correct’ sentence grammar  is very effective in his storytelling and is to note for students to emulate, as well.

I know many readers of my blog have also used Last Stop on Market Street  successfully as a mentor text this year.  Please feel free to add your suggestions in the comments. "It takes a village"...and we all learn from each other!

Book Talk

CJ and his Nana have finished at church and head to the bus stop. The bus will take them to their next destination of the day. Readers don’t know what that is yet—but from CJ’s reaction and questions—it’s obvious that he does not want to go!

CJ being very inquisitive and thoughtful- continues to question Nana about everything they do and see.

Nana’s responses are full of wisdom, gentleness and strength. And her responses are always accompanied with her deep, loving laughter.

Some favorite questions and answers:

CJ-‘How come we gotta wait for the bus in all this wet?’

Nana-‘Trees get thirsty, too. Don’t you see that big one drinking through a straw?”

CJ- “How come we always gotta go here after church? Miguel and Colby never have to go nowhere.”

Nana- “I feel sorry for those boys. They’ll never get a chance to meet Bobo or the Sunglasses Man.”

CJ- “How come that man can’t see?’

Nana-“Boy, what do you know about seeing? Some people watch the world with their ears.”

And my very favorite:

CJ- “How come it’s always so dirty over here?”

Nana- “Sometimes when you are surrounded by dirt, CJ, you’re a better witness for what’s beautiful.”

Nana makes the bus ride rich and meaningful by respectfully interacting with the various bus riders from different walks of life. As CJ feels sorry for himself for not having a car or an iPod, Nana converses with the blind man, gets the guitar man to play and somehow manages to get the whole bus involved in the song that he is singing. CJ is even taken out of his pouting and is taken in by the beautiful music being played.

When the bus driver calls out ‘Last stop on Market Street”, CJ and Nana get out and head towards their destination. The sidewalks are crumbly and there is graffiti everywhere. 

Despite initially not wanting to have come and being surrounded by poverty, CJ does see a beautiful rainbow arching over the Soup Kitchen—which is where the two are heading to work and serve food to the homeless population.

When they arrive, they do see their friends Bobo and Mr. Sunglasses-who are in line waiting for food.  CJ and Nana get started in their work and CJ does finally declare that he is really happy that they have come. So is Nana.

Suggested Uses As a Mentor Text:

Book Genre: Realistic Fiction

Reading Workshop Strategies:  Summarizing, Connections, Inferring, Analyzing, Visualizing

Writing Workshop Genre and Strategies:  Narrative, Small Moment, Elaboration-use of words and language, Character Development, Strong Female

Matt de la Pena’s website:  http://mattdelapena.com/

*** On his website, Matt de la Pena mentions giving his most requested workshop in which he talks about how he went from being a reluctant reader to having his MFA and becoming an author--an author who has won the Newbery Medal.  

Christian Robinson's website: http://theartoffun.com/

The Most Magnificent Thing

by Ashley Spires

Published 2014

Awards: Ontario Library Association Forest of Reading Blue Spruce Award Nominee (2015), Shining Willow Award Nominee (2015), Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize Nominee (2015)

The Most Magnificent Thing is a delightful, endearing story that would be an excellent addition to a school’s library of books supporting life skills—especially the life skill of perseverance as well as having a growth mindset!  As a mentor text for life skills, it would be an excellent read for grades k-5.

As a mentor text for writing, The Most Magnificent Thing provides a solid study of character development, especially for older writers in grades 3-5. Other craft moves to cover with students: the intriguing title which captures the audience's curiosity straight away and the strong ending, which concludes, with an amusing twist, the struggles the character has throughout the story.  

Interesting enough, the main character, a girl, and her best friend, her dog, are never named in the story.  Pronouns dominate the story, which would be an interesting grammar lesson, as well.

Book Talk

Readers meet the main character, simply called ‘the girl’ in the story, and her best friend, the dog.  The girl and her dog love to do all kinds of things together-racing, eating, exploring.  She especially likes to make things and the dog especially like to ‘unmake’ whatever she creates.

Then one day, she has an idea to make the most MAGNIFICENT thing!  She can see it in her mind’s eye and she is very motivated to get her ideas down on paper.  When she does, she is convinced that the most magnificent thing will be very easy to make! Readers do not know what the magnificent thing is yet.

She finds a good place to build her most magnificent thing and sets to work. But when she finishes, she has her doubts about it!

Some favorite lines: “When she finished she steps back to admire her work. She walks around one side. Her assistant examines the other side. It doesn’t look right. Her assistant picks it up and gives it a shake. It doesn’t feel right, either. They are shocked to discover that the thing isn’t magnificent. Or good. It isn’t even kind-of-sort-of okay.”

So, she tries again. Again it is wrong. So, she tries again. Again it is wrong. So, she tries again. Again it is wrong. So, she tries again. Again it is wrong.

She tries ten times to get it right! (Throughout all of her attempts, readers still are left guessing as to what the 'most magnificent' thing is!)

Finally, she gets very, VERY mad (and frustrated)!  She decides to take a walk and she does cool down. When she gets back to her house, sees all ten objects that she has made and sees that she could actually use pieces of each one to make her final project!

She does—and in the end she had indeed, made her most magnificent thing—a side car to attach to her scooter for her dog to ride in!

Suggested Uses as a Mentor Text:

Book Genre: Realistic Fiction

Reading Workshop strategies: Connecting, Fluency, Analyzing, Questioning, Inferring, Synthesizing

Writing Workshop genre and strategies: Narrative Writing, Character Development, Strong Lead, Strong Ending,Strong Female, Grammar: pronouns

Life Skills study: Perseverance, Growth Mindset

Ashley Spires website:  http://www.ashleyspires.com/

You Wouldn’t want to Be at 
the Boston Tea Party!     

  By Peter Cook

Illustrated by David Antram

Published 2014

This book is part of the “You Wouldn’t Want to be….” informational book series which has approximately 80 different titles, all connected to different kinds of big interest events throughout history. Whereas many of the titles focus on American history—many, also focus on Greek, Roman, Medieval, Egyptian and the like.

The “You Wouldn’t Want to be….” series is a fun, informational  group of books that cover interesting historical events and facts through a narrative that is lively and intriguing for students. I would recommend this mentor text for upper elementary and middle school students.

You Wouldn’t Want to Be at the Boston Tea Party  is a solid choice for an informational writing mentor text to model many of the text features students need to know about to include in their own informational writing. 

Starting before one even opens the book, the title is intriguing and invites immediate inquiry by students ("What? Why wouldn’t I want to be at the Boston Tea Party?”). In addition, it is an excellent example of a title that would invite- or grab- a reading audience into a book.

You Wouldn’t Want to Be at the Boston Tea Party is written as a narrative non-fiction, which makes it an easy read-aloud and demonstrates to students an effective way to write informational events and non-fiction texts. A fictional character (who is historically correct) is introduced,  ‘travels’ through the chapters and shares the events with readers through his eyes and experiences.

In addition, You Wouldn’t Want to Be at the Boston Tea Party is filled with non-fiction text features that will guide your students as they create their own informational texts: timelines, maps, headings, subheadings, captions, labels, table of contents, glossary, index.

The book actually begins right inside the book’s cover with a timeline of events before, during and after the Boston Tea Party giving the reader an overview of the historical significance of the main, historical, book-titled event. 

The story continues with each chapter covering an event introduced in the timeline, helping to cement the sequence of developments surrounding The Boston Tea Party. Each ‘chapter’ is placed over two open,facing pages in the book, so there is an unbroken flow of information on the specific topics making easy reading and understanding of the important topics. This organization and presentation of information also makes a great example /mentor for upper elementary and middle school writers.

Also to grab your students interests: the illustrations throughout the book are humorously done with a caricature style and amusing “Handy Hints” are given in a textbox in each open page section (Handy Hint-Get use to drinking coffee. Tea is going to be in short supply!”).

Other Titles in this series (all written as narrative non-fictions, with similar text features and humorous caricature illustrations) :

You Wouldn’t Want to Be….

American Colonist                American Pioneer      Civil War Soldier          Egyptian Mummy

Roman Gladiator                  on the Titanic            Medieval Knight           Viking Explorer

on the Mayflower                 on  Apollo 13              Wild West Town           Pyramid Builder

…..and many, many more!

Suggested Uses as a Mentor Text:

Book Genre: Informational / Non-Fiction Text

Reading Workshop strategies: Reading Informational Text,   Search for and Use Information, Anaylyzing, Questioning Visualizing

Writing Workshop genre and strategies: Informational Writing, Elaboration, Details, Strong Title/ Strong Lead, Non-fiction text features

Curriculum Connection: Social Studies/ History

Owl Moon           

 by Jane Yolen

Illustrated by John Schoenherr

 Published 1987

Awards: 1988 Caldecott Winner

 Owl Moon is one of Jane Yolen’s many treasures that she has given the world!

Yolen’s masterful use of language-descriptive words so naturally and beautifully woven into the  fabric of this narrative-make Owl Moon an outstanding mentor text in writing workshop. 

Although the story presents itself as a simple picture book to be used with the lower elementary grades, the depth of Yolen’s writer’s craft makes Owl Moon an excellent mentor for older elementary and even middle school students.

The free verse form in which the story is written demonstrates to student writers that the text of the story does not have to be ‘heavy’ or dense to be meaningful and impactful to one’s audience. Owl Moon would also be an excellent mentor for memoir or small moment.

Interviews with Jane Yolen reveal that Owl Moon reflects activities her family did when her children were young. 

Book Talk

A young girl finally gets her chance at a long-time family activity and tradition—going out into the woods on a cold, quiet winter’s night with her father to go owling.

She describes her quiet walk with her father through the night—the sound she hears from the trees, the crunch of the footsteps on the snow, the animals, a far away train.  She also reveals  her excitement of being with her father (like all of her siblings before her) and possibly, possibly seeing an owl.

Some favorite lines:

"Our feet crunched

over the crisp snow

and little gray footprints 

followed us.

Pa made a long shadow,

but mine was short and round.

I had to run after him

every now and then

to keep up,

and my short, round shadow

bumped after me."

Father tries to call to the owl several times, but all that is heard back is silence. They don’t hurry  as they know that owing requires patience and perseverance.

Father and daughter continue to quietly travel through the night-calling, listening and moving along.

Finally—a brief answer to Father’s call. They wait and their patience is rewarded with more calls— and then the sighting of the magnificent owl!  The owl and girl stare at each other—take each other in, admire each other—-and then the owl is off.

More favorite lines:

"All of a sudden

an owl shadow,

part of the big tree shadow,

lifted off

and flew right over us.

We watched silently

with heat in our mouths,

the heat of all those words

we had not spoken.

The shadow hooted again."

Father and daughter quietly walk back home with the experience settling in their hearts and minds—becoming part of who they are.

Suggested Uses as a Mentor Text:

Book Genre: Realistic Fiction

Reading Workshop Strategies: Fluency, Questioning, Connecting, Inferring, Synthesizing, Visualizing

Writing Workshop Strategies: Narrative, Personal Narrative,Q Memoir, Elaboration, Grammar, Inspiring Writers, Writer’s Craft

Jane Yolen’s website: http://janeyolen.com/