Soldier Bear

Dumon, Tak Bibi., and Philip Hopman. Soldier Bear. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans for Young Readers, 2011.

Genre: historical fiction

Reading Level: 780L

Summary: This is actually a (mostly) true story about a bear named Voytek who was found by a group of Polish soldiers during World War II when he was just a cub. The soldiers at the army base love Voytek. The soldiers raise him and when he grows up he proves to be useful for carrying supplies, as well as serving as a mascot for his company. The soldiers eventually end up in Scotland and receive news that they can go home. Unfortunately, they can’t take Voytek with them, but arrangements are made for him to live comfortably in a zoo where the soldiers come back and visit their special friend.

Rationale for Classroom Use: This book could accompany any lesson about WWII. I would use this book to supplement my student’s knowledge about this war, especially creating a global understanding of this conflict.

Common Core Connection: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.3 Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events