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Winston of Churchill: One Bear's Battle Against Global Warming
Churchill, Manitoba is the polar bear capitol of the world. Every winter, tourists flock to the tiny town to watch the bears hunt and frolic on the frozen waters of the Hudson Bay. This year, though, the tourists are in for a big surprise…Winston! A smart, fierce, brave bear, Winston of Churchill has noticed that their icy home is slowly melting away. He explains to the other bears why the ice is melting then, using the stirring words of his famous namesake, rallies the bears to convince humans to save their Arctic home. However, on the way to the protest march, Winston learns an unexpected lesson and realizes that he, too, must change his ways. This timely, funny story draws attention to the polar bears’ plight and helps children understand that in the face of global warming, everyone must do their part, no matter how small.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 2007
3 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
Jean Davies Okimoto
35 books14 followers“I’ve always had an appreciation for the constant balancing act between career and family and for women in the arts it can be a high wire act.”
Okimoto, who was born in 1942 in Cleveland, Ohio, knows of what she speaks. An acclaimed children’s author, playwright, retired psychotherapist, wife, mother, and grandmother, she has worn many hats since Putnam published her first book in 1978.
With The Love Ceiling, her eighteenth book and one she calls “my debut novel for my own age group,” Okimoto delivers a charming and poignant exploration of a long marriage and the conflicts that arise in both in retirement and in parenting adult children. The roles of a woman in her sixties: wife, mother, grandmother and artist are richly drawn with complexity and depth.
Many of the themes resonate for women across generations, but the author is especially passionate about reaching older women, a huge segment of the population which Okimoto feels has not been well served by large publishers. With rave reviews from early readers and endorsers such as Christiane Northrup, MD author and host of the PBS television special Mother-Daughter Wisdom, Okimoto’s debut adult novel is fast becoming a book club favorite.
The Love Ceiling won top honors in the 2009 Next Generation Indie Book Awards adding to the author’s numerous awards which include Smithsonian Notable Book, the American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults, the Washington Governor’s Award, the Green Earth Book Award, and the International Reading Association Readers Choice Award. Jean Davies Okimoto’s books and short stories have been translated into Japanese, Italian, Chinese, Turkish, German, and Hebrew. A resident of the Pacific Northwest since 1968, Jeanie Okimoto and her husband live on Vashon Island near Seattle.
Okimoto, who was born in 1942 in Cleveland, Ohio, knows of what she speaks. An acclaimed children’s author, playwright, retired psychotherapist, wife, mother, and grandmother, she has worn many hats since Putnam published her first book in 1978.
With The Love Ceiling, her eighteenth book and one she calls “my debut novel for my own age group,” Okimoto delivers a charming and poignant exploration of a long marriage and the conflicts that arise in both in retirement and in parenting adult children. The roles of a woman in her sixties: wife, mother, grandmother and artist are richly drawn with complexity and depth.
Many of the themes resonate for women across generations, but the author is especially passionate about reaching older women, a huge segment of the population which Okimoto feels has not been well served by large publishers. With rave reviews from early readers and endorsers such as Christiane Northrup, MD author and host of the PBS television special Mother-Daughter Wisdom, Okimoto’s debut adult novel is fast becoming a book club favorite.
The Love Ceiling won top honors in the 2009 Next Generation Indie Book Awards adding to the author’s numerous awards which include Smithsonian Notable Book, the American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults, the Washington Governor’s Award, the Green Earth Book Award, and the International Reading Association Readers Choice Award. Jean Davies Okimoto’s books and short stories have been translated into Japanese, Italian, Chinese, Turkish, German, and Hebrew. A resident of the Pacific Northwest since 1968, Jeanie Okimoto and her husband live on Vashon Island near Seattle.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
July 5, 2011
Kind of a lame book about global warming in which a hypocritical polar bear tries to convince the other polar bears to protest the humans' contributions to greenhouse gasses. One bear, however, refuses to protest. This is Winston's wifey bear, who says she will protest alongside her husband only if he stops smoking cigars.
Umm, there's an awful lot going on in this picture book. There are polar bears, Churchill quotes and references to England, global warming facts, and cigar-smoking-is-bad propaganda.
I think the polar bears probably have enough reason to protest without tying their struggle to the one Churchill faced with the Nazis. I don't think the age group this book was written for will even get the references anyway. Wrong crowd.
Umm, there's an awful lot going on in this picture book. There are polar bears, Churchill quotes and references to England, global warming facts, and cigar-smoking-is-bad propaganda.
I think the polar bears probably have enough reason to protest without tying their struggle to the one Churchill faced with the Nazis. I don't think the age group this book was written for will even get the references anyway. Wrong crowd.
November 11, 2021
Honestly I had a lot more hope for the book than what I got. I thought the illustrations were really cute but the plot was not great. I’ll admit that kids can learn some things from the book about global warming, but there are better books for that than this one. I don’t really like how the book made the leaders hypocrite because he smoked a cigar and had that be part of the plot. I also thought it was dumb the way they introduced his wife.
March 3, 2022
This picture book has lots of chuckles for kids and adults, all wrapped around a serious message. It's not a new book, but the topic is as timely as ever. I love the book's layers of meaning. The story is fun, often silly, and some of its humor is directed squarely at the adult reader. But the book is loaded with kid-friendly storytelling that pulls no punches in its message about global warming, told through the eyes of polar bears.
October 12, 2019
grade- k-5
super cute illustrations. Book talks about reasonings behind global warming and what we can do to make a difference. The book ends with all the polar bears protesting together to convince the humans to make a difference.
focus- climate change
super cute illustrations. Book talks about reasonings behind global warming and what we can do to make a difference. The book ends with all the polar bears protesting together to convince the humans to make a difference.
focus- climate change
November 19, 2020
I was really hopeful about this book and what it might teach kids about climate change but, alas, I was greatly disappointed. The polar bear smokes a cigar. And the story is “meh.” Not one I’ll recommend.
May 18, 2017
This is a great book for teaching global warming to elementary students also can be tied into social studies for Winston Churchill
March 18, 2020
Reading Level: 450L
Star Rating 4: This book was good in terms of its visuals, but I personally wasn't a big fan of how it was written.
AST: This book is voice.
Star Rating 4: This book was good in terms of its visuals, but I personally wasn't a big fan of how it was written.
AST: This book is voice.
January 9, 2023
This book won the Green Earth Book Award and for obvious reasons. It is the story of a grumpy old bear, Winston, who wants to start a rally against global warming. But his wife believes that if he wants others to change so must he. With wonderful illustrations and a great story, this book will allow young readers to learn about this important issue in a fun way.
January 12, 2026
È per questo libro se oggi sono fatto in questo modo
November 19, 2014
I thought Winston of Churchill was a great book. I didn't think that it was going to be as informational as it really was. Not only did I enjoy the story but learned a lot more about what is going on in the world with Global Warming. I loved how Jean Okimoto made the story from the perspective of the polar bears and they would feel about all that is going on. The illustrations were great and very life-like. Jeremiah Trammell did a wonderful job of giving each of the polar bears such detailed facial expressions. I thought he captured the true feeling behind each bear. I really liked how in the story, even though Winston was talking about Global Warming, his wife was the only one to realize he himself was not acting on his words. It goes to show that if you want something done, you have to do all that it takes to get it done.
Winston of Churchill is a story of a Polar Bear who lives in Churchill where they seem to have a big issue with Global Warming. Instead of just complaining about it he feels the need to let everyone around him know about it. He lives in a community of other Polar bears, so he decides to gather them around and tell them his big idea of how he wants to get the attention of the humans. The city of Churchill is frequently visited by humans who come to watch the polar bears. His idea is to hold of picket signs and protest about their cause of Global Warming. But before anyone is going to do this with him, his wife says he needs to get rid of his cigar. So the next day as the humans are on their tour they look and see nothing. There is not a polar bear in sight, people become sad and very mad. Then out of nowhere they see all the polar bears with signs "Make less garbage, Recycle" "Walk, Ride Bike" and "Freeze Please". All the people started taking pictures, who then showed the pictures to their friends and family. That is how people became of aware of Global Warming.
Winston of Churchill is a story of a Polar Bear who lives in Churchill where they seem to have a big issue with Global Warming. Instead of just complaining about it he feels the need to let everyone around him know about it. He lives in a community of other Polar bears, so he decides to gather them around and tell them his big idea of how he wants to get the attention of the humans. The city of Churchill is frequently visited by humans who come to watch the polar bears. His idea is to hold of picket signs and protest about their cause of Global Warming. But before anyone is going to do this with him, his wife says he needs to get rid of his cigar. So the next day as the humans are on their tour they look and see nothing. There is not a polar bear in sight, people become sad and very mad. Then out of nowhere they see all the polar bears with signs "Make less garbage, Recycle" "Walk, Ride Bike" and "Freeze Please". All the people started taking pictures, who then showed the pictures to their friends and family. That is how people became of aware of Global Warming.
February 16, 2011
I feel like a yo-yo: I went back and forth from loving it, hating it, loving it, hating it, and I ended up really liking it, or did I just sort of like it? Obviously, I’m ambivalent.
I was predisposed to like this book because I first learned about the polar bears of Churchill in one of my very favorite books, Never Cry Wolf, a book I first read 35 years ago.
So, the positives: I smiled a lot, from the inside front covers viewing the signs the polar bears were holding and all the way through, good basic introductory climate change information, and information about Churchill and its polar bears and tourists, mostly very cute illustrations, some good messages, information that cigars are bad, the additional information in the back of the book, and the humor.
And, the negatives: Very message heavy, a bit jarring to go from picture book to slightly more advanced educational language, the fact that the cigar was there at all, and the Winston the polar bear compared to Winston Churchill, well it was a bit too much of a teachable moment for me, and it’s very message heavy. Yes, really, really message heavy. And the fact that the cigar was in this children’s picture book at all, even with the plotline and caveats that went with it.
But, it is a cute book and I like the messages, so I guess I really like it, or like it, or??? 3 ½ stars, and now I’ll spend a few moments obsessing whether to round that up or down. It’s so very adorable. I’ll give it 4 stars but I’m leaving the recommended to field blank because I’m really not sure what I’d put there.
I was predisposed to like this book because I first learned about the polar bears of Churchill in one of my very favorite books, Never Cry Wolf, a book I first read 35 years ago.
So, the positives: I smiled a lot, from the inside front covers viewing the signs the polar bears were holding and all the way through, good basic introductory climate change information, and information about Churchill and its polar bears and tourists, mostly very cute illustrations, some good messages, information that cigars are bad, the additional information in the back of the book, and the humor.
And, the negatives: Very message heavy, a bit jarring to go from picture book to slightly more advanced educational language, the fact that the cigar was there at all, and the Winston the polar bear compared to Winston Churchill, well it was a bit too much of a teachable moment for me, and it’s very message heavy. Yes, really, really message heavy. And the fact that the cigar was in this children’s picture book at all, even with the plotline and caveats that went with it.
But, it is a cute book and I like the messages, so I guess I really like it, or like it, or??? 3 ½ stars, and now I’ll spend a few moments obsessing whether to round that up or down. It’s so very adorable. I’ll give it 4 stars but I’m leaving the recommended to field blank because I’m really not sure what I’d put there.
January 12, 2015
"The picture book Winston of Churchill: One Bear's Battle Against Global Warming by Jean Davies Okimoto with illustrations by Jeremiah Trammell teeters between being preachy and instructive and clever and witty.
Winston is a polar bear near a town named Churchill in Manitoba, Canada. He wears glasses and is always holding a lit cigar, much like another Winston named Churchill. Bear Winston is in a position of polar bear leadership, much like British Prime Minster Winston was in a position of human leadership. The polar bears are facing the melting of ice in Hudson Bay due to human pollution, much like the Brits were facing invasion by the Na...No, that's kind of a stretch. But when Bear Winston rallies his bears, he does sound a lot like British PM Winston rallying his people. '"We will for fight ice," boomed Winston. "We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches. We shall fight on the landing grounds. We shall fight in the fields and in the streets. We shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender."'
That's what makes this book clever and witty, the whole whole bear-doing-Churchill thing. Because a polar bear isn't Winston Churchill, and the incongruity is funny."
Excerpt from Original Content
Winston is a polar bear near a town named Churchill in Manitoba, Canada. He wears glasses and is always holding a lit cigar, much like another Winston named Churchill. Bear Winston is in a position of polar bear leadership, much like British Prime Minster Winston was in a position of human leadership. The polar bears are facing the melting of ice in Hudson Bay due to human pollution, much like the Brits were facing invasion by the Na...No, that's kind of a stretch. But when Bear Winston rallies his bears, he does sound a lot like British PM Winston rallying his people. '"We will for fight ice," boomed Winston. "We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches. We shall fight on the landing grounds. We shall fight in the fields and in the streets. We shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender."'
That's what makes this book clever and witty, the whole whole bear-doing-Churchill thing. Because a polar bear isn't Winston Churchill, and the incongruity is funny."
Excerpt from Original Content
December 6, 2014
Winston of Churchill tells the story of a polar bear who is fighting to save his home while also educating other polar bears about global warming. After a brief summary on why the ice caps are melting and why the earth is getting warmer, Winston encourages the polar bears of Churchill to join him in protest. Everyone agrees except for Winston's wife who will only join the protest if Winston quits smoking. His wife tells him that he must live by example in order to really help the planet.
I thought this book had a great combination of being fun and entertaining for kids, giving information about global warming, and telling a story. The illustrations were very clever, particularly the pictures portraying the polar bears with human qualities (i.e. Winston with a cigar and glasses, the rebellious teenage bear with piercings and colored hair, Winston's wife wearing a bracelet, etc.). I also enjoyed how creative the endpapers are; there are pencil sketches of several polar bears holding up signs protesting the carelessness of humans and the heating climate. Overall, I really liked this book and definitely recommend it for future teachers.
I thought this book had a great combination of being fun and entertaining for kids, giving information about global warming, and telling a story. The illustrations were very clever, particularly the pictures portraying the polar bears with human qualities (i.e. Winston with a cigar and glasses, the rebellious teenage bear with piercings and colored hair, Winston's wife wearing a bracelet, etc.). I also enjoyed how creative the endpapers are; there are pencil sketches of several polar bears holding up signs protesting the carelessness of humans and the heating climate. Overall, I really liked this book and definitely recommend it for future teachers.
March 21, 2014
I saw this review last week, commented about it, and my book friend brought it to me! It’s quite wonderful, an excellent beginning to introducing global warming to younger students! Actually, it includes parts of another book, a non-fiction explanation of how global warming works: from the Let’s Read and Find Out Science Series, Why Are The Ice Caps Melting? The Dangers of Global Warming by Anne Rockwell, illustrations by Paul Meisel. In addition, it includes history, because Winston of Churchill used more than one inspirational quote from the famous Winston Churchill. The book follows a group of bears who prepare for a demonstration to tourists who have traveled far to see them. When they don’t find them from the tour bus, they become disgruntled, but finally they discover a group of sign-toting bears who protest too much Carbon Dioxide, too much garbage, too few trees planted, etc. The resolution is uncertain, but the biggest message is clear: “We must all do our part, no matter how small.”
January 1, 2009
This clever and delightful book is about the effects of global warming on the polar bear population. Winston (a bear) resembles Winston Churchill, right down to the cigar that he must give up when his wife points out that it is part of the problem. The book is set in Churchill, Manitoba, the polar bear capital of the world. Winston the bear spouts quotes from Winston Churchill, and gets the bears so worked up that, when the tourists arrive, they are confronted with polar bears carrying picket signs (such as "turn down the furnace" and "make less garbage") against global warming. The message is important, and the author presents factual information while spinning a wonderful yarn. EXCELLENT!
November 29, 2010
Winston (the polar bear) uses the words of Sir Winston Churchill (World War Two hero) to inspire his community to protest the loss of their habitat - and learns on his way to the protest march that he must also change his ways. Delightfully illustrated and full of gentle humour, this book is a brilliant way to introduce children to facts about polar bears, arctic ecology, Canadian geography, global warming, and world history. The tone is light and the lesson (that we must all do our part, no matter how small) is not overbearing (if you'll forgive the pun). My kids love it and ask for repeated re-readings.
March 31, 2014
The illustrations in this book are great, and the mice are cute. I like how determined the mice are to get noticed, and the ends they go to--to see the polar bears--to have their voices heard. I think this is better suited for K-2. My 3-year-old loved the mice but had a little trouble understanding why people weren't listening to them and why they had to go to the polar bears. If I taught K-2, I would definitely use this in my classroom for Earth Day.
January 21, 2012
Malcolm says, "I like polar bears, I like snow, I like ice, I like binoculars, I like sun, I like Winston of Churchill. I like bears that live in snow like the polar bears and I like bears smoking cigars and that's it."
May 22, 2008
Great book - and gives references for more reading
April 20, 2009
Save the earth type book.
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November 21, 2010Winston of Churchill is trying to save his home. The ice is melting because things are getting warmer. He shares about Global Warming with his friends.
June 7, 2011
This book is about how to save the environment. The polar bears tell you how to save the environment. I liked the end part because it was funny.
Rated and reviewed by Dylan, age 8.
Rated and reviewed by Dylan, age 8.
December 7, 2012
A great book about taking personal responsibility for improving the world and activism.
April 22, 2013
Perfect Earth Day read! I also like the history lesson included at the end.
April 28, 2013
We got this book specifically for our five-year-old that is trying to understand why we ride our bikes to save the polar bears. :) The new movie Into the Artic ties right into this.
June 22, 2014
Cute historical science book that is super witty!
July 5, 2015
So embarrassing that it took me so long to figure out the connection....
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May 26, 2017Winston of Churchill is a polar bear trying to save his home but realizes that he is hurting himself also. He is very wise and his wife is even wiser.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews