When a tiny orphaned bear cub is adopted by Polish soldiers during World War II, little does anyone know that little Wojtek will become one of the bravest fighters of them all. As the soldiers train to take part in some of the fiercest fighting of the war, Wojtek grows up, providing headaches and laughter in equal measure as he learns to drink beer, chase horses and wrestle with his human friends. But at Monte Cassino, as the Allies try and dislodge German troops from their mountain-top eyrie, Wojtek, now a fully signed-up solider with his own rank and number, comes into his own, dodging the bullets to carry ammunition to his comrades as they inch their way to victory.
After the war, the Polish solders move to Scotland. Wojtek comes too and soon becomes the centre of attention in a new country. But with hostilities ended, how long can he keep his freedom? Best-selling children's author Jenny Robertson explores the themes of friendship and trust in this moving and inspirational story.
A Truly beautiful short story of survival and friendship that will play with various emotions and melt your heart, leaving you wanting more!
Wojtek pronounced 'Voy-tek' (meaning someone who enjoys a good fight) came to the army as a cub after his mum was shot. A group of hungry children resuced him. The children trade him to Piotr and his soldiers for tinned ham, an army knife and a few coins to buy there next meal. Over the moon they took off leaving the cub in Piotr's care
Knowing once they got into the army camp their sergeant would send Wojtek to the zoo. Piotr was not about to let that happen. So he wraps him in a big oversized coat and sneaks him into Stan and his tent, getting Tadek to promise to also keep quiet about the cub! Snuggled up next to Piotr, Wojtek fell sound asleep.
We follow along as Wojtek grows and becomes a vital part of the army and to help lift the spirits of the soldiers as they love and care for him.
This story also tells the heartbreak and pain the soldiers have faced from the effects of the war.
It's a heart warming yet very poignant read. I adored Piotr and Wojtek's bond, so much trust and love. Both have lost their family but they have each other.
Wojtek warmed my heart. His cheeky behaviour and loyalty is wonderful to read. I loved how he made friends with the army Dalmatian as they played and become great friends.
Wojtek is a wonderful story of survival, new beginnings, loyalty and friendship. This warm, at times funny, compassionate and Vivid rich tale has absolutely stolen my heart, it's a unique book that once read will truly stay with you for a lifetime. The illustrations are beautifully done and added a special touch. I can't recommend this book enough!
Thank you to Love Book Group Tours for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
This is an absolutely fascinating short story that really touched my heart!
This is a beautifully written true story about a young bear called Wojtek, who found himself caught up in World War II - he was adopted by a set of Polish soldiers after he was orphaned and when they came to Scotland - he came too - this is his story!
It is definitely a book that will stay with me long after reading it and it was a genuine pleasure to read it - the illustrations are a delight too. I loved Wojtek's relationship with the man who rescued him and it shows the power of the relationship they had. It is very moving at times and just the kind of book that I love to read - I am so pleased to have been introduced to this book!
No hesitation in giving this book the 5 stars it deserves!! Very highly recommended!!
I knew as soon as I spotted this book that it was one I wanted to read. The cover alone speaks volumes about what is inside. Wojtek is actually marketed and aimed towards younger children 9+. I’m sure the contents of the story are a fantastic way of broaching the war and how daily life was for the Polish people.
While it portrays the gritty not so pleasant side of war in a suitable way for youngsters it also highlights the complete trust built between a bear cub and the man who saved him. Wojtek as he became known was left abandoned after his mother was shot by soldiers. Piotr in that split second of seeing him made the decision to protect him. Too tiny to eat but obviously starving the soldiers devised a way to get nourishment into him.
As the book progresses and we uncover the truths behind how the Polish soldiers survived traumatic incidents in the Second World War we are also treated to the antics of Wojtek as he learns the language and becomes a hero in his own right.
When the war is over the soldiers disband and Piotr moves to Scotland to be near family, the question arises about how long Wojtek can retain his freedom. Eventually the decision is made and a place becomes available at Edinburgh zoo. The poignant scenes as man and bear are separated are heart rending, the enclosure was built to ensure plenty of activity to keep him amused and he was well cared for. But when Piotr visits and Wojtek recognises the Polish language approaching I found it very hard to keep reading through the tears. I am a complete softie where animals are concerned and this book hit all my emotions.
A perfect story for adults and children alike to soak up some history, human and animal emotion, war and freedom. The writing is perfect and the story of Wojtek will remain with me for a long time.
My thanks to the author, publisher and Love Books Tour for my copy which I chose to read and review.
Although Wojtek, War Hero Bear is primarily a children's book I would recommend all animal lovers read this heartwarming yet at times moving story.
Piotr, a Polish soldier meets the orphaned bear cub whilst serving in World War II. A beautiful relationship unfolds between the bear (they named Wojtek) and the Polish soldiers. Wojtek becomes a fully signed up soldier with his own rank and number and plays his own special part in the war effort.
This is my favourite quote from the book, I think it encompasses the story perfectly.
Glad of some peace Piotr crouched beside the little bear. "You're too young to survive in the wild but you don't belong behind bars in a zoo". he said in a low voice. "When we've won this war I'll take you back home with me. I'll find my family and we'll rebuild our lives together" And for the first time in many months, he began to believe that might be possible.
Wojtek made the soldiers laugh, he let them pour out all the affection that would normally go to their families and gave it back in return. He worked hard and kept his fellow soldiers safe. As well as life lessons in friendship, kindness, and trust, children will learn a little of the hardships of World War II and some of the history surrounding it.
I loved the illustrations created by Tim Archbold. I imagined the drawings of Wojteks adventures being drawn by the soldiers with a pencil and notebook they carried with them in their backpacks. I'm sure the illustrations will appeal to children and help to draw them into the story because they really do capture the bear's character.
Wojtek will win your hearts, I admit I did shed a tear or two, but this is a book I will remember and recommend for many years to come.
Thank you for providing me with a copy of Wojtek which I have reviewed honestly.
When I was told about this book, and the fact that it is based on a true story I knew I had to read it as it sounds brilliant. I was not disappointed.
The book is aimed at children (I would say 10 years plus really) but can also be enjoyed by adults as well due to how moving the story is.
Personally I found the story about the Polish soldiers conditions during the war very moving and never realised how they treated and survived the war before being transported to Scotland. When Wojtek moved with them I was thinking about what would happen after the war and the bit where he is taken to Edinburgh zoo was both sad and happy as he would then live the rest of his days in relative peace.
The book itself is a very educational piece about the war and also about Wojtek himself as I had never heard of him prior to reading this book.
Oh what a delightful read! I think adults and children will both adore this book (aimed at 9-12 year olds).Wojtek (pronounced Voy-tek) is discovered by Piotr as they are on the way to to war as a cub whose mother had been shot and would not have survived. It is the second world war and the Polish soldiers have endured many hardships- their families were taken away and they don’t know what has happened to them. Wojtek was known for his love of beer and became a symbol for freedom and international solidarity. This book will bring the hardships of that time, (nothing too upsetting) and what people had to endure and how animals can bring comfort even in the hardest of times-starvation, extremes of temperature as well as being shot at and mine filled landscapes. There are of course lighter moments- Wojtek is a wonderful entertainer- and is learning to help the humans who adore him. This is based on a true story with some added fictional characters, and you can't help but fall in love with the mischief that is Wojtek. If you look on youtube there is a video showing clips of the real Wojtek which brought a real lump to my throat. A truly inspirational, memorable read. For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/ or follow me on Twitter @nickijmurphy1
Last summer I visited Edinburgh myself and whilst walking through Princes Street Gardens I came across a beautiful commemorative statue of a soldier with a bear and was instantly captivated by this story of humanity and bravery. I’ve often said that fiction brings history to life and the author Jenny Robertson’s story based on the actual experiences of the Polish soldiers and of their new recruit a little brown bear cub was enchanting, poignant and gave you a little hope and comfort in a very difficult time to many. I found myself charmed by Wojtek and his relationship with Piotr and at times I was overcome with emotion. This story would be wonderful read out aloud to a class of primary aged children learning about WWII. The book also could be read by children aged 9+ and equally could be enjoyed by adults. Wojtek’s story takes on a different aspect to the horrors of war. This little bear cub lovingly named Wojtek (meaning someone who enjoys a good fight) was to become an essential member of the Polish Army; this army of men of differing ages and backgrounds forced to flee their family and homes. The men had dark moments of the time they left their beloved homeland. The men are now united with the hope of returning home. Wojtek gave them another focus, a sort of light relief and he was definitely a morale booster. Jenny Robertson’s story touches on friendship, especially finding and accepting new friends through difficult times. We learn of humanity, care and trust. With Jenny Robertson’s words and the wonderful line drawings by Tim Archbold (which I believe fit perfectly for Wojtek rather than cartoon-esque images as Wojtek wasn’t a fictional cartoon creation, he was very real) the story was informative, entertaining, emotive and inspirational. Wojtek will be remembered by many for a long, long time.
This is the most delightful tale, made all the more poignant by the fact that it's based on a true story. It seems incredible to think that the events contained in this book could possibly have happened.
Piotr was a Private in the Polish Army in World War II. One day he and his fellow soldiers came across a bear cub and decided to adopt him. They named him Wojtek. Eventually he was made a fully-fledged soldier in his own right and he started to be able to help out in various ways as part of the bid to win the war.
Jenny Robertson has embellished the facts a little and added in various characters who didn't really exist for the purposes of making a good story, but ultimately the bones of the story are the truth. Piotr cared deeply for Wojtek and the feeling was mutual, in fact Piotr was the only one who could control Wojtek. It's such a charming and touching story of the little bear cub who grew up to be a fully grown bear of 2.13 metres tall. I laughed at the many times that Wotjek surprised somebody who was not expecting to meet a bear. They obviously ran for the hills but Wojtek was (mostly) a gentle giant.
The lovely story is enhanced by the wonderful drawings by Tim Archbold which portray the life of Wojtek perfectly. Every chapter has one full page illustration.
The book is aimed at the 9-12 age group. I think it would be perfect for children and adults alike. It is fairly gentle when covering the events of World War II but obviously adults can read between the lines.
I wasn't aware of what was going to happen at the end and it made me cry. I loved reading about Wojtek and his soldier comrades. He was a bit of a mischief maker, quite the performer, a bit feisty at times, but always loyal.
Wojtek: War Hero Bear made me smile, it made me laugh and it moved me to tears. It's a really lovely read.
Well, I think this book is classified as a children’s read, but I noticed, that you should have pretty good knowledge in history, in order to understand what is going on in here. I picked up this book after reading a Holocaust memoir, so it was a very nice continuation to my reading theme. 😀
When Piotr, a polish soldier, discovers an abandoned bear cub, he decides to take him along on his journey to Palestine. But he discovers, that after losing his family to the Soviet regimen, Piotr feels very lonely, and Wojtek’s presence comforts not only him but other soldiers as well. I really liked the characters in this book, I found them charming, warm and pleasant personalities. I really enjoyed that author used multiple perspectives in this novel, I really loved reading Wojtek’s parts, I found them cute and funny. I loved the parts, were author shared Piotr’s story with the readers. It is a very sad story involving concentration camps and betrayal, but these parts made the whole book more complex and more interesting for me. (as an adult with some knowledge of history…)
The narrative follows the army squad accompanied by Wojtek, through their journeys in the middle east, and is very fun to read. I have to agree, Wojtek is a very funny and smart bear, and I loved all his mishaps. The author has done a great research for this novel, however, sometimes it felt like reading a history book, filled with war terminology and facts. Another aspect I really enjoyed was the pictures, Tim Archbold did a great job on them. I am glad that every chapter had a picture, and I was curious to find out, which scene from that chapter he decided to illustrate. 🙂
The writing style of this book was pretty straightforward, and it was quite easy and enjoyable for me. The chapters were a decent length and the pictures helped to make it more entertaining and playful. I did enjoy the setting of this book, it changes continuously, bringing in different scenery and atmosphere. I think that the ending was very realistic and believable for this novel, but some aspects left me a little bit upset with Piotr. So, to conclude, It is a great read for children as well as adults, especially if your child is learning about WWII, I think it would widen up their knowledge and you would have great fun reading it as well. Win-win situation. 😀 This novel has amusing characters as well as lots of serious and fun moments, and I do recommend to give this book a try. Enjoy 🙂
Children will enjoy following the antics of the bear cub Wojtek 'adopted' by Polish soldier Piotr in this entertaining book, especially when he gets into all kinds of bother in the quartermaster store, is frightened by a donkey and has a vodka too many. It's a good introduction to what life was like for Polish soldiers in the Second World War, and doesn't shy away from talking about the realities of war but in an appropriate way for children. The book brings a human face to war looking at Piotr's family before he joined the army, when they were taken by the Red Army to Russia. Their difficult and dangerous journey ending in up in a prison camp was vividly described.
Wojtek the bear is literally a larger than life character who children will adore. It was fascinating to read about how he actually became a help to the army rather than just a mascot. It was also interesting to read about what happened after the war when he came to Britain and spent his final days in Edinburgh Zoo. Wojtek, War Hero Bear is a book sure to be enjoyed by young readers.
Wonderfully woven together from the threads of research and imagination, this humorous yet poignant tale brings one of the most lovable creatures of wartime memory to life for the next generation. Excellent! Plenty food for young imaginations and curious minds. And I'm a teacher!
Really enjoyable book about an amazing creature. Slightly spoiled in the Afterword when it is mentioned that various characters in the book are fictional; surely such an amazing story could have been told in an historically accurate way?
I didn't know the story and was excited when I found this book in a bookshop. I enjoyed reading about the friendship between a bear and Polish soldiers in the unfriendly times of war.