During World War I, a female bear cub was purchased for only $ 20 by vet Harry Colebourn. Named after Winnie, named after the Canadian city of Winnipeg, the little girl became a mascot for the Colebourn regiment. But before a trip to France, the little bear had to be donated to the London Zoo.

There she became a major attraction. But one particular boy visited her often. It was little Christopher who, due to admiration for the animal, named his little teddy bear Winnie. His father, seeing that they were inseparable, decided to record this special friendship.

The Winnie Bear

In 1926, the book Winnie-the-Pooh (The Teddy Bear) was released, which featured the first adventures of the little bear that would be known for its red t-shirt and passion for honey. Even though Disney treated the character as male, the original story shows that Pooh was a girl.

Christopher and the plush Winnie

Who revealed all this, almost 90 years after the first appearance of the little bear, was Lindsay Mattick, great-granddaughter of Harry Colebourn. The whole story is in his new book Finding Winnie, which is now available in bookstores.

Christopher's toys gained a special place in the Main Section of the New York Public Library. Clockwise from bottom to top: Tigger, Can, Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore and Piglet.

What did you think about the revelation that Pooh Bear is a girl? Comment on the Mega Curious Forum