SOLDIER BEAR PDF, EPUB, EBOOK

Bibi Dumon Tak | 158 pages | 28 Oct 2013 | William B Eerdmans Publishing Co | 9780802854360 | English | Grand Rapids, United States Wojtek (bear) - Wikipedia

Soldier Bear. By: Bibi Dumon Tak. Illustrated By: Philip Hopman. Eerdmans Publishing Co. Wishlist Wishlist. Write a Review. Advanced Search Links. Product Close-up This product is not available for expedited shipping. Add To Cart. Absolutely Truly. Careful Enough. The Action Bible, Updated. Waxman at olivia. Dymitr Szawlugo, a Polish soldier who helped care for the bear, in Italy in late after the Battle of Monte Cassino. By Olivia B. Get our History Newsletter. Put today's news in context and see highlights from the archives. Please enter a valid email address. Sign Up Now. Check the box if you do not wish to receive promotional offers via email from TIME. You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thank you! A young woman, one of many refugees who were traveling with the troops offered to care for the bear, which subsequently travelled to Tehran with them. Adopted as a mascot by soldiers of the 4th Platoon, the bear was named Wojtek pronounced: Voytek and he swiftly became a great attraction. His favourite drink was beer, and he was soon enlisted with the 22 nd Artillery Supply company as a Private with his own pay-book and army serial number. Seemingly oblivious to the sound of gunfire, Wojtek took part in the Battle of Monte Casino, carrying many ammunition boxes and crates of food for his unit. 'Soldier bear' statue unveiled in Edinburgh

Dec 05, Linda rated it really liked it Shelves: read , middle-ya , picture-books. Based on real events is this imagined account of a bear that accompanied five Polish soldiers who traveled from their beloved Poland to the British Isles then to the middle east, where they found a bear cub in the middle of a desert, finally to Italy, then to Scotland, and home. The adventures also involve two dogs and a monkey-a total menagerie that traveled with these men. In the earlier parts of the story, they had to gain permission to keep the animals, but soon, they endeared themselves to Based on real events is this imagined account of a bear that accompanied five Polish soldiers who traveled from their beloved Poland to the British Isles then to the middle east, where they found a bear cub in the middle of a desert, finally to Italy, then to Scotland, and home. In the earlier parts of the story, they had to gain permission to keep the animals, but soon, they endeared themselves to whole camps, providing comic relief and love in this time of such hardship. At the end are pictures of the bear and one of the soldiers along with a little bit more information. I found the book a little slow at times, although I always wanted to know what was going to happen next. Some of the students at school, middle grades, have read and enjoyed the book. Jun 27, Kimberly Wees added it Shelves: children-s-literature. Audience: 4th to 8th grade students study WWII history. The story is about a bear who gets bought and is used for work. There is talk about the history of WWII but not in too much detail that it's overbearing. It focuses more on the importance of having a friend and companion in times of trouble and strife. It talks about getting through things together and that having somebody with you is all you need in life. Batchelder Award winners: Dec 10, Mariah rated it it was amazing Shelves: children-s-books , world-war-ii , award-winners , iraq , bears , monkeys , syria , poland , favorite , favorites. Voytek is the kind of pet any child would love to imagine. He is so much more delightful because this is based on a true story --he really was a member of an allied military division and he truly made the war more "bearable," even enjoyable for the soldiers who befriended him and all others who encountered him. This book evokes a lot more laughter than tears. It also includes interesting historical context, including maps of WWII regions and a simple, "kid-speak" version of Poland's unique Voytek is the kind of pet any child would love to imagine. It also includes interesting historical context, including maps of WWII regions and a simple, "kid-speak" version of Poland's unique predicaments at the beginning and end of the war. Aug 17, Elizabeth rated it it was amazing Shelves: j-fic , historical-fic. Soldier Bear does what the Voytek does for the soldiers - lightens, appropriately, a hard time in our history. The voice of the story is slightly younger than the story itself perhaps, but I thoroughly enjoyed the book and will recommend it for purchase for our library. It also provides a non-American, tho pro-American, look at WWII balancing the harshness of war with the lightness of a bear's unusual role in wartime. Aug 25, Heather rated it it was amazing Shelves: kids-books-i-would-recommend , Thank goodness for the Batchelder Award, without which I probably would have never heard of this book, much less picked it up. This is a fabulous story, and based on the true story of the bear who was enlisted in the Polish army. I thought it showed how hard war can be but how something to care for and love the adorable and rambunctious bear helped these soldiers make it from day to day. It is a beautiful story. Sep 06, Edward Sullivan rated it really liked it Shelves: children-s-fiction , world-war Readers will be charmed by the playful antics of Private Voytek. Oct 13, Katie rated it really liked it Shelves: international-lit. Soldier Bear won the Batchelder Award in I found this book on Epic! There was no read aloud option, so I read the story myself. Soldier Bear is based on a real story of a bear cub that was found and adopted by Polish soldiers during World War II. A soldier, Peter, finds Voytek which means "smiling warrior" in Polish and instantly falls in love. Voytek travels to many different countries with the Soldier Bear won the Batchelder Award in Voytek travels to many different countries with the soldiers as they complete their transport duties. This includes traveling through dangerous war zones. Although the bear causes lots of mischief in the camps, the soldiers love him and could not imagine their time serving without him. Voytek not only keeps the spirits' of the soldiers high during stressful times, he also helps them in war. He helps the soldiers capture a spy in their camp and also transport deadly weapons. As Peter states, the bear helps "Make the war easier to bear" Tak, , p. The soldiers can talk with Voytek and also count on him to make them laugh. The bear captures every soldier's heart, while also helping them get through their dangerous jobs and take their minds off of war and death. It is hard not to fall in love with Voytek while reading this beautiful story! Bibi Dumon Tak does an excellent job of weaving historical elements into this story. The story definitely had me giggling at times, but then when the war elements arose, my mood completely changed. I also loved the conversations between soldiers and Voytek. All of the soldiers were trying to act strong, but would talk to the bear and tell him their true feelings. For example, in chapter 11 Stanislav compares the rain storm that occurred on the boat to the war that was taking place all around them. I think that using the storm as a sign or symbol to foreshadow the war ahead of them was a beautiful literary element that Tak used. These conversations allowed readers to truly understand how much the bear meant to all the soldiers and what their relationship was like. It also demonstrated the toll the war took on the soldiers. Another historical element that was helpful to have while reading was the map text feature. The author included maps showing where the soldiers were traveling throughout the story. This helps the readers better understand the setting and where the soldiers would be transporting their goods. This would be a great book for fifth grade or middle school students to read! When World War II is covered in social studies, this would be a perfect read aloud. This story offers goofy moments that will have the whole class laughing while also having some students hold back tears in other parts especially if you are an animal lover like me! It demonstrates true feelings and events of World War II as well, so it would be a great connection to the content being learned. As mentioned in chapter 5 our course text, "Children's Books in Children's Hands: A Brief Introduction to Their Literature", while reading international children's literature there may be content or events that occur that are not usually in books written in English Temple, With that in mind, there were multiple points in this book where the soldiers and the bear were drinking vodka and beer and also smoking. If you read this with older students, surely they will know what this is, but it is definitely worth noting that a conversation needs to be had regarding this. This would be a great discussion to have with students about drinking and smoking. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I think it has a great mix of humor, history, and emotions. I definitely recommend this book for educators of middle school! Dec 08, Caroline Cogswell rated it really liked it Shelves: books This is such an interesting and fascinating book! It is based off of a true story that takes place in WW2. An orphaned bear who is found by a group of Polish Soldiers is raised and enlisted into their company. He travels a long with them and creates some mischief. However, he also provides support and encouragement for the soldiers. This is a great book to use when teaching students a lesson about history, especially WW2. It is not a typical story you hear during this time or even now, so I This is such an interesting and fascinating book! It is not a typical story you hear during this time or even now, so I believe students will be intrigued throughout and gain more knowledge about the time in WW2 for the Polish Soldiers. Jul 12, Sam Hui rated it it was amazing. An excellent book. I was drawn to this book when I read the first few pages, and it didnt let me down - it was thoroughly entertaining and appealing. The plot was cleverly and intricately crafted and it kept me engaged throughout. The vocabulary was used intelligently, contributing as a factor to why the story was very enjoyable. I particularly liked how the author crafted the historical atmosphere uniquely. The fictional world created was amazing, marvelous and magnificent. Overall, this was a An excellent book. Overall, this was a brilliant book and I highly recommend it. Jun 12, Rebecca rated it it was amazing. Animal stories and mischief make this story appealing to all ages. Nov 28, Meredith rated it it was amazing Shelves: childrens-lit. A really fantastic book about a true story that is apparently pretty well known in Europe but not too much here. Even though it's about WWII, it's mostly a funny book about the shenanigans of a bear who is a private in the Polish Army. There are a few super emotional moments, but overall the story made me smile and really appreciate how much animals bless us. May 08, Anouska rated it really liked it. This book is super cute. Read it with my son and loved that it was a true story. Great character development and although it's war time the bear's antics and the camaraderie was a very different perspective from most war time books. May 14, Debb rated it really liked it Shelves: historical-fiction. Very good book written for younger, although the story is appealing to all ages. Jun 04, Kelly rated it liked it Shelves: international-publication , middle-grades , european-and-european-american. Originally published in in Dutch in the Netherlands. Translated into English in for Eedmans by Laura Watkinson. Nov 27, Patricia rated it really liked it. Thoroughly enjoyed it. I had no idea it was non-fiction until the end. Sep 26, Maaz rated it it was amazing. This book was a really good book I really liked the bear. Sep 23, Alex Baugh rated it really liked it Shelves: world-war When a group of five Polish men end up together in British army base in Iran after being released from a Russian prison in , they quickly become part of the 22nd Transport Company. One of their assignment is the task of transporting large amounts of artillery ammunition from Iran to a larger British base in Palestine. On their very first trip, they encounter a young boy en route dragging a large moving sack. Inside is a small baby bear, a Syrian brown bear whose mother either abandoned it or When a group of five Polish men end up together in British army base in Iran after being released from a Russian prison in , they quickly become part of the 22nd Transport Company. Inside is a small baby bear, a Syrian brown bear whose mother either abandoned it or had died. The five softhearted Polish friends decide to trade some objects for the bear, and before long, they even decide to keep the baby bear, no matter what their superiors at the base say. And so they name the bear Voytek, Polish for smiling warrior. Perhaps because there is a war on, but things are a little loosey-gooset at the base and the men are actually permitted to keep their new baby bear, feeding it condensed milk in an empty vodka. And it doesn't take long for the Voytek to become part of army life in the desert. He haunts the cook for scraps, uses all the shower water to cool down and becomes best friends with an unnamed stray dalmatian, and enemies with a monkey named Kaska, who delights in tormenting Voytek at every opportunity and who rides around the base on a large dog named Stalin. As the war goes on, the Polish soldiers are eventually given orders to sail for Italy after the Allied soldiers have successfully been able to push back the Germans. And yes, because Voytek was officially listed as Private Voytek, he was allowed to go along. In fact, the whole menagerie is allowed to board ship and travel to Rome, though Voytek wasn't too fond of sailing. Voytek was a strong, sometimes goofy bear who seems to think loading and unloading heavy artillery ammo is some kind of game with the men. Imagine a bear carrying a bomb that could blow up the whole army base if dropped, but the men and even the brass has faith in Voytek's ability to safely transport deadly ammunition. I often found myself laughing out loud while I was reading Soldier Bear. There was something in the writing style and the antics of the animals reminded me so much of Roald Dahl's WW2 book Going Solo. Voytek was definitely a bear with his own personality who seemed to believe he was just "one of the guys" which may explain his penchant for beer and cigarettes. Of course, part of what makes this story so charming is that most of the time the soldiers are based in the Middle East, which did not see the kind of fighting that was happening in Europe. It was a much more relaxed setting and really allowed for the antics of people, bears, dogs and even the monkey Kaska more easily. Soldier Bear is an absolutely delightful fictionalized account of the soldierly life of the real Voytek and made even more delightful because of the wonderfully whimsical illustrations of Philip Hopman, a Dutch artist, on the cover and throughout the book. I loved this book and even though Voytek was a beer-drinking smoker, would not hesitate to recommend it to Middle Grade readers. I think that they will be able see that the fact that Voytek was such a good friend and that he made the war easier for everyone he came in contact with, especially this five Polish fathers, is the more important aspect of this story. Apr 19, ME rated it it was amazing Shelves: margaretward-childrenslit. Voytek was a Syrian brown bear who served with the Polish Army under the British for over 5 years. Voytek was given the rank of Private by one of the Commanding Officers who was also charmed by the mischievous bear. The story continues to tell how Voytek was raised from a small cub to a full size bear by Private Peter Prendys and traveled with the troops. While serving in the army, Voytek managed to get into plenty of trouble but also, he was able to catch a spy, learned to carry artillery shells and thoroughly entertained the troops. He journeyed to Egypt, Italy and finally to Scotland. It is a wonderful story that I enjoyed immensely. Remembering- Who were the main characters? Understanding- Explain why the story has the title that it does. The title, Soldier Bear, was developed because the story revolves around a bear cub who is adopted by a group of Polish soldiers. Voytek becomes a soldier along with the rest of the troops. Applying- How is Voytek similar to his trainer, Peter? Since Voytek was raised from a tiny bear cub by Peter, the bear thinks that Peter is his mother. Voytek wants to emulate Peter in every way. The bear learns to smoke eats the cigarettes and drinks beer. He even sleeps in the bed with Peter. He enjoys showers and often runs the Army camp out of water. When Voytek is frightened by the cruel monkey, Kaska, he runs and hides by Peter. Voytek also seems to know when to nuzzle and comfort a soldier who is fearful of wartime. Analyzing- What was the most exciting part? The soldiers needed to move ammunition and Voytek who copies the men, was helping. The Commanding Officer was horrified to see the bear carrying live ammo but Voytek kept the line moving while gingerly moving the artillery shells. The CO, amazed at the good job the bear was doing, said he would make sure the bear was never forgotten. Some months later, the CO came with the new emblem for the 2nd Polish Corps; it was a bear carrying an artillery shell. The emblem became part of the Corps uniform, gear and their vehicles. At the end of the war, the Polish army, along with Voytek, was sent to Scotland as Poland was still occupied by the Russians. The troops had to stay in Scotland for another year. When it came time to leave Scotland, Peter had to make the decision to leave Voytek in a zoo there. It was difficult for Peter to leave the bear, but it was the best thing for the soldiers and the bear. It was the kindest thing for the bear. Creating- Create a new ending to the story. Peter falls in love with a Scottish girl, Fiona, and decides to stay in Scotland, marry Fiona and start a new life there. Voytek still must go into the zoo, but Peter gets a job at the zoo. Dec 16, Barb Middleton rated it really liked it Shelves: wwii , historical. Lighthearted World War II stories are hard to come by. The fact that the story is true makes it even more memorable. A group of Polish soldiers find a cub and raise it at a military camp where its shenanigans and childlike behavior make everyone fall in love with him. Voytek, as he is called, not only covers his eyes with his paws when in trouble but rocks back and forth. When someone is sad, Voytek comforts them. When soldiers need cheering up, he does handstands or drinks beer and eats lit Lighthearted World War II stories are hard to come by. When soldiers need cheering up, he does handstands or drinks beer and eats lit cigarettes to the laughter of those around him. He is a ham and the resident monkey scares him to death. This big pound baby is one that you will fall in love with as well. The soldiers are a part of a transport unit and while they deliver supplies to the front lines they don't deal directly with the horrors of the battlefield. In one scene, the soldier witnesses the death of two men that leaves him traumatized but it is told after the fact and shows how Voytek helped comfort those around him. The soldiers could take care of him, pamper, and be entertained by his tricks. It took their minds off of the horrors of war and made them laugh at a time when laughter was elusive. Voytek unique skills involved capturing a spy by accident and taking long showers. He also guarded the company's equipment and helped carry munitions. He was raised by humans and acted like one. Most of the story is Voytek's adventures at camp seeking out food and getting into trouble. There's a funny scene where he entertains a crowd of soldiers on a crane stopping work and being more daring as the men cheered him on. Numerous memorials commemorating this extraordinary and loyal bear were erected worldwide. It was sculpted by Alan Beattie Heriot and paid for by The Wojtek Memorial Trust charity which was set up to raise awareness of his story among younger people in Scotland. The memorial stands as a permanent memorial to the soldiers who rescued Wojtek and their ever-lasting connection with Scotland. You lost me at the first paragraph- Soviet invasion of Poland? The soviets May have beat the Nazis but they still incarcerated, tortured, raped and murdered us. Educate yourself. Soviets were complete ruthless, sub-human, brainless savages. This coupled with their large numbers is the only reason for any perseverance made by them in ww2. The Soviets took advantage of the chaos of the Nazi invasion of Eastern Europe to pillage a few countries for themselves. And really, neither were we. What makes you think this person is English or American? She could just as easily be Russian, Canadian, Italian, French, or any number of nationalities. Why do you try to denigrate two particular nationalities? In January of , Muhammad Ali rushed to the scene of a suicidal man, threatening Vitiligo is a skin condition in which pale white patches develop on the skin. Daryl Davis - an African American blues musician - has spent the last 35 years At one point in American history, there was nothing quite as entertaining as a lynching The battlefields of World War I were the scene of much heroism. These heroes came In , underfunded Morbidology Podcast The article continues below Morbidology is a weekly true crime podcast created and hosted by Emily G. Connect with. Notify me of. Inline Feedbacks. Sad photo of such an incredible creature behind bars….. For 16 years. Susanna Vesna. You are English or American. Do not comment on something you do not understand. Bounty hunter. Soldier Bear by Bibi Dumon Tak | Scholastic

After the battle, the 22nd Supply Company adopted a badge of a bear carrying an artillery shell as its official symbol. A bear of character, Wojtek liked cigarettes, but he ate them, always insisting that they were lit first. Unlit cigarettes were firmly rejected. In , the Polish 22 nd Artillery Supply Company went to Scotland and Wojtek went too, becoming very popular with local residents. The five softhearted Polish friends decide to trade some objects for the bear, and before long, they even decide to keep the baby bear, no matter what their superiors at the base say. And so they name the bear Voytek, Polish for smiling warrior. Perhaps because there is a war on, but things are a little loosey-gooset at the base and the men are actually permitted to keep their new baby bear, feeding it condensed milk in an empty vodka. And it doesn't take long for the Voytek to become part of army life in the desert. He haunts the cook for scraps, uses all the shower water to cool down and becomes best friends with an unnamed stray dalmatian, and enemies with a monkey named Kaska, who delights in tormenting Voytek at every opportunity and who rides around the base on a large dog named Stalin. As the war goes on, the Polish soldiers are eventually given orders to sail for Italy after the Allied soldiers have successfully been able to push back the Germans. And yes, because Voytek was officially listed as Private Voytek, he was allowed to go along. In fact, the whole menagerie is allowed to board ship and travel to Rome, though Voytek wasn't too fond of sailing. Voytek was a strong, sometimes goofy bear who seems to think loading and unloading heavy artillery ammo is some kind of game with the men. Imagine a bear carrying a bomb that could blow up the whole army base if dropped, but the men and even the brass has faith in Voytek's ability to safely transport deadly ammunition. I often found myself laughing out loud while I was reading Soldier Bear. There was something in the writing style and the antics of the animals reminded me so much of Roald Dahl's WW2 book Going Solo. Voytek was definitely a bear with his own personality who seemed to believe he was just "one of the guys" which may explain his penchant for beer and cigarettes. Of course, part of what makes this story so charming is that most of the time the soldiers are based in the Middle East, which did not see the kind of fighting that was happening in Europe. It was a much more relaxed setting and really allowed for the antics of people, bears, dogs and even the monkey Kaska more easily. Soldier Bear is an absolutely delightful fictionalized account of the soldierly life of the real Voytek and made even more delightful because of the wonderfully whimsical illustrations of Philip Hopman, a Dutch artist, on the cover and throughout the book. I loved this book and even though Voytek was a beer-drinking smoker, would not hesitate to recommend it to Middle Grade readers. I think that they will be able see that the fact that Voytek was such a good friend and that he made the war easier for everyone he came in contact with, especially this five Polish fathers, is the more important aspect of this story. Apr 19, ME rated it it was amazing Shelves: margaretward-childrenslit. Voytek was a Syrian brown bear who served with the Polish Army under the British for over 5 years. Voytek was given the rank of Private by one of the Commanding Officers who was also charmed by the mischievous bear. The story continues to tell how Voytek was raised from a small cub to a full size bear by Private Peter Prendys and traveled with the troops. While serving in the army, Voytek managed to get into plenty of trouble but also, he was able to catch a spy, learned to carry artillery shells and thoroughly entertained the troops. He journeyed to Egypt, Italy and finally to Scotland. It is a wonderful story that I enjoyed immensely. Remembering- Who were the main characters? Understanding- Explain why the story has the title that it does. The title, Soldier Bear, was developed because the story revolves around a bear cub who is adopted by a group of Polish soldiers. Voytek becomes a soldier along with the rest of the troops. Applying- How is Voytek similar to his trainer, Peter? Since Voytek was raised from a tiny bear cub by Peter, the bear thinks that Peter is his mother. Voytek wants to emulate Peter in every way. The bear learns to smoke eats the cigarettes and drinks beer. He even sleeps in the bed with Peter. He enjoys showers and often runs the Army camp out of water. When Voytek is frightened by the cruel monkey, Kaska, he runs and hides by Peter. Voytek also seems to know when to nuzzle and comfort a soldier who is fearful of wartime. Analyzing- What was the most exciting part? The soldiers needed to move ammunition and Voytek who copies the men, was helping. The Commanding Officer was horrified to see the bear carrying live ammo but Voytek kept the line moving while gingerly moving the artillery shells. The CO, amazed at the good job the bear was doing, said he would make sure the bear was never forgotten. Some months later, the CO came with the new emblem for the 2nd Polish Corps; it was a bear carrying an artillery shell. The emblem became part of the Corps uniform, gear and their vehicles. At the end of the war, the Polish army, along with Voytek, was sent to Scotland as Poland was still occupied by the Russians. The troops had to stay in Scotland for another year. When it came time to leave Scotland, Peter had to make the decision to leave Voytek in a zoo there. It was difficult for Peter to leave the bear, but it was the best thing for the soldiers and the bear. It was the kindest thing for the bear. Creating- Create a new ending to the story. Peter falls in love with a Scottish girl, Fiona, and decides to stay in Scotland, marry Fiona and start a new life there. Voytek still must go into the zoo, but Peter gets a job at the zoo. Dec 16, Barb Middleton rated it really liked it Shelves: wwii , historical. Lighthearted World War II stories are hard to come by. The fact that the story is true makes it even more memorable. A group of Polish soldiers find a cub and raise it at a military camp where its shenanigans and childlike behavior make everyone fall in love with him. Voytek, as he is called, not only covers his eyes with his paws when in trouble but rocks back and forth. When someone is sad, Voytek comforts them. When soldiers need cheering up, he does handstands or drinks beer and eats lit Lighthearted World War II stories are hard to come by. When soldiers need cheering up, he does handstands or drinks beer and eats lit cigarettes to the laughter of those around him. He is a ham and the resident monkey scares him to death. This big pound baby is one that you will fall in love with as well. The soldiers are a part of a transport unit and while they deliver supplies to the front lines they don't deal directly with the horrors of the battlefield. In one scene, the soldier witnesses the death of two men that leaves him traumatized but it is told after the fact and shows how Voytek helped comfort those around him. The soldiers could take care of him, pamper, and be entertained by his tricks. It took their minds off of the horrors of war and made them laugh at a time when laughter was elusive. Voytek unique skills involved capturing a spy by accident and taking long showers. He also guarded the company's equipment and helped carry munitions. He was raised by humans and acted like one. Most of the story is Voytek's adventures at camp seeking out food and getting into trouble. There's a funny scene where he entertains a crowd of soldiers on a crane stopping work and being more daring as the men cheered him on. He could turn on showers and loved to drain the camp of all its water sitting in the shower for hours on end. He would snuggle in bed with one of the soldiers that he imprinted with when he was a cub. The thought of sleeping with a pound bears is hard to fathom. Some of the historical context might need explaining to young readers. There is one part where one of the soldiers is disrespectful toward a corporal. He's mad at him because he doesn't want the animals to come on the ship but the angry man is speaking in Polish and name-calling him the "cross-eyed" corporal because of a lazy eye. Later they make derogatory comments about the Germans and putting a dome over them and their country with their "sauerkraut. The Germans are the enemy and it is completely one-sided. There is also a lot of drinking and smoking which represents a different historical period when cigarettes were not looked at as a health hazard. There is plenty to talk about in this book. And laugh about. Good for grade 5 and up. May 25, Hannah rated it liked it Shelves: childhood-pleasures. Soldier Bear chronicles the adventures of five Polish soldiers, some of whom were friends before the war, before Poland was invaded by the Germans and the Russians, and others of whom become friends once they escape from Poland to Iran to fight with the British. It's a different view of World War II than most stories, which tend to be focused on the action in western Europe. In fact, it's a different view of war in general in that the story largely centers on a bear that the five friends adopt Soldier Bear chronicles the adventures of five Polish soldiers, some of whom were friends before the war, before Poland was invaded by the Germans and the Russians, and others of whom become friends once they escape from Poland to Iran to fight with the British. In fact, it's a different view of war in general in that the story largely centers on a bear that the five friends adopt while in Iran, whom they name Voytek, or "smiling warrior" in Polish. Voytek travels along with the soldiers from Iran to Italy to Scotland, always entertaining them and getting into trouble, and yet always endearing himself enough to commanders that he's not only accepted into the camp, but eventually becomes a mascot and emblem of the 2nd Polish Corps. Voytek's sense of humor, his playfulness, his cleverness, and his ready adaptation to life with the soldiers are amazing to read about, especially as the book is based on a true story, with pictures in the back of the book to prove it. Voytek cheers up the soldiers, and also shows the softer side of the soldiers and their commanding officers, as he elicits their compassion and they dote on him freely. The 2nd Polish Corps is particularly interesting in that Voytek is not the only animal companion: Kaska the monkey, Stalin the dog, and a dalmatian also form part of the crew. Kaska is constantly torturing and harassing Voytek until the soldiers devise a plan for her to go to a zoo and have a baby monkey, in an effort to calm her down. Lolek's concern for Kaska and her baby is touching to read about, and gives a glimpse into the emotional lives of the soldiers, although in a very brief and age-appropriate way. Voytek's participation in the war by helping the soldiers' morale, carrying ammunition, and comforting the soldiers changes up the traditional war story by showing a lighter, funnier, and yet also more gentle and nurturing side of soldiers and their day to day lives. Voytek being in camp obviously changed the tradition of camps being very utilitarian places, though the story somewhat follows tradition in that it does show the effect of war and loss of fellow soldiers on characters like Lolek, and on the Italians in the countryside that the soldiers meet. The story is told very clearly and matter-of-factly, without much fanfare or flourish. This plain, simple style was good for children readers, but sometimes felt a little too simplistic. Feb 25, Charlize added it. Dec 04, Ed added it. Tak, B. Soldier bear. ISBN: Private Voytek carried his artillery shell carefully to the next soldier in line to whom he passed it and then hurried back to get the next heavy shell. Voytek repeated this artillery transport until the trucks were unloaded. After working, Voytek enjoyed a cigarette or a beer. Many of us would have been more inclined to give Voytek a raw Tak, B. Many of us would have been more inclined to give Voytek a raw salmon or a honeycomb. Based on a true story, Tak helps us to understand that in the midst of events as horrible as war, we still have the opportunity to be human. War is not the place for pets. Soldiers fighting a war do not typically babysit an animal, especially one as large as a bear. Nor can soldiers usually afford to feed and care for so large an animal. No, the best way to find room for a bear on the fighting front is for that bear to become a working member of the unit. And so this Syrian brown bear was inducted into the army as Private Voytek. What I appreciate about this story is the mix of animals that found their way to the front. We have, obviously, the bear. We also have a few dogs and we even have a monkey, Kaska. While it is important for students not to gloss over the serious nature of war, it is also important to remind students that soldiers are still people. Since many of the events of this story are literally true and Soldier Bear includes an afterward with pictures of the actual bear , this book will remind students that an event like a war is much more complicated than just a fight over right or wrong. An animal like Private Voytek is capable of not only passing the ammunition, but capable of improving morale. Soldier Bear has just the right mix of pathos and humor for younger students. The winner of the Batcheldor award for translation translated by Laura Watkinson , Soldier Bear will find an excellent home in both elementary and middle school libraries. I love being able to review a book published in our own state of Michigan, especially when the book is as wonderful as Soldier Bear! Apr 30, Emily rated it it was amazing Shelves: emilyblayneychildlit. He moved to Edinburgh Zoo , living there until his death in at the age of 21 or It is said that whenever he heard the Polish language or a Polish accent at the zoo, the old soldier bear would stand on his hind legs and wave a paw, as if in salute. Already have an account? Log in here. Independent Premium Comments can be posted by members of our membership scheme, Independent Premium. It allows our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss real-world solutions, and more. Our journalists will try to respond by joining the threads when they can to create a true meeting of independent Premium. The most insightful comments on all subjects will be published daily in dedicated articles. You can also choose to be emailed when someone replies to your comment. The existing Open Comments threads will continue to exist for those who do not subscribe to Independent Premium. Due to the sheer scale of this comment community, we are not able to give each post the same level of attention, but we have preserved this area in the interests of open debate. Please continue to respect all commenters and create constructive debates. Please be respectful when making a comment and adhere to our Community Guidelines. You can find our Community Guidelines in full here. There are no Independent Premium comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts. There are no comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today. First a young boy found and adopted the then small and fluffy bear cub. He smoked, although he only ever took one puff of the cigarette before swallowing it. Wojtek was rewarded with two bottles of beer and unlimited shower time. And so Wojtek faced many of the horrors endured by human soldiers during the Italian campaign. And it seems that to the end of his days, Wojtek never forgot his former comrades in arms.

Wojtek: The bear who fought Hitler's Nazis | The Independent | The Independent

Crazy Credits. Alternate Versions. Rate This. This is the story of Wojtek - a magnificent lb military bear who fought in World War Two alongside a band of Polish soldiers, shared their beer and cigarettes - and eventually their fate Directors: Will Hood , Adam Lavis. Added to Watchlist. Holiday Movie Stars, Then and Now. Wish List Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Photos Add Image Add an image Do you have any images for this title? Edit Cast Credited cast: Romi Aboulafia Irena Brian Blessed Narrator voice Adam Eveson John Clarke Alex Kinsey Soldier Jakub Strzelecki Soldier Wojtek Self archive footage Danny Zahavi Edit Storyline This is the story of Wojtek - a magnificent lb military bear who fought in World War Two alongside a band of Polish soldiers, shared their beer and cigarettes - and eventually their fate. Thank goodness for the Batchelder Award, without which I probably would have never heard of this book, much less picked it up. This is a fabulous story, and based on the true story of the bear who was enlisted in the Polish army. I thought it showed how hard war can be but how something to care for and love the adorable and rambunctious bear helped these soldiers make it from day to day. It is a beautiful story. Sep 06, Edward Sullivan rated it really liked it Shelves: children-s-fiction , world-war Readers will be charmed by the playful antics of Private Voytek. Oct 13, Katie rated it really liked it Shelves: international-lit. Soldier Bear won the Batchelder Award in I found this book on Epic! There was no read aloud option, so I read the story myself. Soldier Bear is based on a real story of a bear cub that was found and adopted by Polish soldiers during World War II. A soldier, Peter, finds Voytek which means "smiling warrior" in Polish and instantly falls in love. Voytek travels to many different countries with the Soldier Bear won the Batchelder Award in Voytek travels to many different countries with the soldiers as they complete their transport duties. This includes traveling through dangerous war zones. Although the bear causes lots of mischief in the camps, the soldiers love him and could not imagine their time serving without him. Voytek not only keeps the spirits' of the soldiers high during stressful times, he also helps them in war. He helps the soldiers capture a spy in their camp and also transport deadly weapons. As Peter states, the bear helps "Make the war easier to bear" Tak, , p. The soldiers can talk with Voytek and also count on him to make them laugh. The bear captures every soldier's heart, while also helping them get through their dangerous jobs and take their minds off of war and death. It is hard not to fall in love with Voytek while reading this beautiful story! Bibi Dumon Tak does an excellent job of weaving historical elements into this story. The story definitely had me giggling at times, but then when the war elements arose, my mood completely changed. I also loved the conversations between soldiers and Voytek. All of the soldiers were trying to act strong, but would talk to the bear and tell him their true feelings. For example, in chapter 11 Stanislav compares the rain storm that occurred on the boat to the war that was taking place all around them. I think that using the storm as a sign or symbol to foreshadow the war ahead of them was a beautiful literary element that Tak used. These conversations allowed readers to truly understand how much the bear meant to all the soldiers and what their relationship was like. It also demonstrated the toll the war took on the soldiers. Another historical element that was helpful to have while reading was the map text feature. The author included maps showing where the soldiers were traveling throughout the story. This helps the readers better understand the setting and where the soldiers would be transporting their goods. This would be a great book for fifth grade or middle school students to read! When World War II is covered in social studies, this would be a perfect read aloud. This story offers goofy moments that will have the whole class laughing while also having some students hold back tears in other parts especially if you are an animal lover like me! It demonstrates true feelings and events of World War II as well, so it would be a great connection to the content being learned. As mentioned in chapter 5 our course text, "Children's Books in Children's Hands: A Brief Introduction to Their Literature", while reading international children's literature there may be content or events that occur that are not usually in books written in English Temple, With that in mind, there were multiple points in this book where the soldiers and the bear were drinking vodka and beer and also smoking. If you read this with older students, surely they will know what this is, but it is definitely worth noting that a conversation needs to be had regarding this. This would be a great discussion to have with students about drinking and smoking. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I think it has a great mix of humor, history, and emotions. I definitely recommend this book for educators of middle school! Dec 08, Caroline Cogswell rated it really liked it Shelves: books This is such an interesting and fascinating book! It is based off of a true story that takes place in WW2. An orphaned bear who is found by a group of Polish Soldiers is raised and enlisted into their company. He travels a long with them and creates some mischief. However, he also provides support and encouragement for the soldiers. This is a great book to use when teaching students a lesson about history, especially WW2. It is not a typical story you hear during this time or even now, so I This is such an interesting and fascinating book! It is not a typical story you hear during this time or even now, so I believe students will be intrigued throughout and gain more knowledge about the time in WW2 for the Polish Soldiers. Jul 12, Sam Hui rated it it was amazing. An excellent book. I was drawn to this book when I read the first few pages, and it didnt let me down - it was thoroughly entertaining and appealing. The plot was cleverly and intricately crafted and it kept me engaged throughout. The vocabulary was used intelligently, contributing as a factor to why the story was very enjoyable. I particularly liked how the author crafted the historical atmosphere uniquely. The fictional world created was amazing, marvelous and magnificent. Overall, this was a An excellent book. Overall, this was a brilliant book and I highly recommend it. Jun 12, Rebecca rated it it was amazing. Animal stories and mischief make this story appealing to all ages. Nov 28, Meredith rated it it was amazing Shelves: childrens-lit. A really fantastic book about a true story that is apparently pretty well known in Europe but not too much here. Even though it's about WWII, it's mostly a funny book about the shenanigans of a bear who is a private in the Polish Army. There are a few super emotional moments, but overall the story made me smile and really appreciate how much animals bless us. May 08, Anouska rated it really liked it. This book is super cute. Read it with my son and loved that it was a true story. Great character development and although it's war time the bear's antics and the camaraderie was a very different perspective from most war time books. May 14, Debb rated it really liked it Shelves: historical-fiction. Very good book written for younger, although the story is appealing to all ages. Jun 04, Kelly rated it liked it Shelves: international-publication , middle-grades , european-and-european-american. Originally published in in Dutch in the Netherlands. Translated into English in for Eedmans by Laura Watkinson. Nov 27, Patricia rated it really liked it. Thoroughly enjoyed it. I had no idea it was non-fiction until the end. Sep 26, Maaz rated it it was amazing. This book was a really good book I really liked the bear. Sep 23, Alex Baugh rated it really liked it Shelves: world-war When a group of five Polish men end up together in British army base in Iran after being released from a Russian prison in , they quickly become part of the 22nd Transport Company. One of their assignment is the task of transporting large amounts of artillery ammunition from Iran to a larger British base in Palestine. On their very first trip, they encounter a young boy en route dragging a large moving sack. Inside is a small baby bear, a Syrian brown bear whose mother either abandoned it or When a group of five Polish men end up together in British army base in Iran after being released from a Russian prison in , they quickly become part of the 22nd Transport Company. Inside is a small baby bear, a Syrian brown bear whose mother either abandoned it or had died. The five softhearted Polish friends decide to trade some objects for the bear, and before long, they even decide to keep the baby bear, no matter what their superiors at the base say. And so they name the bear Voytek, Polish for smiling warrior. Perhaps because there is a war on, but things are a little loosey-gooset at the base and the men are actually permitted to keep their new baby bear, feeding it condensed milk in an empty vodka. And it doesn't take long for the Voytek to become part of army life in the desert. He haunts the cook for scraps, uses all the shower water to cool down and becomes best friends with an unnamed stray dalmatian, and enemies with a monkey named Kaska, who delights in tormenting Voytek at every opportunity and who rides around the base on a large dog named Stalin. As the war goes on, the Polish soldiers are eventually given orders to sail for Italy after the Allied soldiers have successfully been able to push back the Germans. And yes, because Voytek was officially listed as Private Voytek, he was allowed to go along. In fact, the whole menagerie is allowed to board ship and travel to Rome, though Voytek wasn't too fond of sailing. Voytek was a strong, sometimes goofy bear who seems to think loading and unloading heavy artillery ammo is some kind of game with the men. Imagine a bear carrying a bomb that could blow up the whole army base if dropped, but the men and even the brass has faith in Voytek's ability to safely transport deadly ammunition. I often found myself laughing out loud while I was reading Soldier Bear. There was something in the writing style and the antics of the animals reminded me so much of Roald Dahl's WW2 book Going Solo. Voytek was definitely a bear with his own personality who seemed to believe he was just "one of the guys" which may explain his penchant for beer and cigarettes. Of course, part of what makes this story so charming is that most of the time the soldiers are based in the Middle East, which did not see the kind of fighting that was happening in Europe. It was a much more relaxed setting and really allowed for the antics of people, bears, dogs and even the monkey Kaska more easily. Soldier Bear is an absolutely delightful fictionalized account of the soldierly life of the real Voytek and made even more delightful because of the wonderfully whimsical illustrations of Philip Hopman, a Dutch artist, on the cover and throughout the book. I loved this book and even though Voytek was a beer-drinking smoker, would not hesitate to recommend it to Middle Grade readers. I think that they will be able see that the fact that Voytek was such a good friend and that he made the war easier for everyone he came in contact with, especially this five Polish fathers, is the more important aspect of this story. Apr 19, ME rated it it was amazing Shelves: margaretward-childrenslit. Voytek was a Syrian brown bear who served with the Polish Army under the British for over 5 years. Voytek was given the rank of Private by one of the Commanding Officers who was also charmed by the mischievous bear. The story continues to tell how Voytek was raised from a small cub to a full size bear by Private Peter Prendys and traveled with the troops. While serving in the army, Voytek managed to get into plenty of trouble but also, he was able to catch a spy, learned to carry artillery shells and thoroughly entertained the troops. He journeyed to Egypt, Italy and finally to Scotland. It is a wonderful story that I enjoyed immensely. Remembering- Who were the main characters? Understanding- Explain why the story has the title that it does. The title, Soldier Bear, was developed because the story revolves around a bear cub who is adopted by a group of Polish soldiers. Voytek becomes a soldier along with the rest of the troops. Applying- How is Voytek similar to his trainer, Peter? Since Voytek was raised from a tiny bear cub by Peter, the bear thinks that Peter is his mother. Voytek wants to emulate Peter in every way. The bear learns to smoke eats the cigarettes and drinks beer. He even sleeps in the bed with Peter. He enjoys showers and often runs the Army camp out of water. A political tug of war of sorts began. He ended up in Scotland, in a village called Hutton in Berwickshire, on a farm where he lived with other former Polish fighters who were being lodged there temporarily after the war. Her grandfather was a Scottish soldier who helped train the Poles from the Siberian gulag when they were in Baghdad, and she ended up marrying the man who ran the camp where they had stayed. So she grew up hearing stories about how people at the Scottish camp would feed the bear sweets like honey and jam, attempt to wrestle him, and kick around soccer ball with him. He was almost human. The bear died in , partly of damage to his esophagus, perhaps from swallowing cigarettes, Foley suggests. A bronze statue of the bear was unveiled in central Edinburgh in November Write to Olivia B. Waxman at olivia. Dymitr Szawlugo, a Polish soldier who helped care for the bear, in Italy in late after the Battle of Monte Cassino. By Olivia B. https://uploads.strikinglycdn.com/files/0b6f7fa0-cd37-419f-bc70-85e691da01db/brush-lettering-822.pdf https://static.s123-cdn-static.com/uploads/4641960/normal_601f61cd64f35.pdf https://static.s123-cdn-static.com/uploads/4640353/normal_601fda0187fe3.pdf https://files8.webydo.com/9586049/UploadedFiles/B7FD48A7-63BC-7F7A-2FCB-7C4566EFE98F.pdf https://files8.webydo.com/9588297/UploadedFiles/4285F7B5-1541-C753-8FBB-974D624BCF37.pdf https://files8.webydo.com/9591407/UploadedFiles/F93B19A5-A21A-EF2D-811A-B09903A51250.pdf https://static.s123-cdn-static.com/uploads/4637789/normal_601f2a4f636f3.pdf