Chapter Book #4


Author:  Bibi Dumon Tak
Title: Soldier Bear
Illustrator: Philip Hopman
Readability score:  Grade 9 to Grade 12
Genre:  Fiction
Subgenre:  Historical Fiction
Theme:  Pets are a man's best friend.  Friendship and love.
Primary and secondary characters:  Voytek, Peter, Stanislav, Pavel, Janusz, Lolek, Kaska, Dottie, Stalin
Awards: 2012 Mildred L. Batchelder Award
Date of Publication:  2008
Publishing company:  Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
ISBN number:  978-0-8028-5375-2

Soldier Bear is based on a true story of Voytek, a bear adopted in Iran during World War II by Polish soldiers.  Voytek is a lovable, kind bear who moves from camp to camp, ship to ship with his owner, Peter.  Peter and his friends look after Voytek; and Voytek gains the approval of the troops, colonels, and generals of the Polish army by proving that he is a useful bear.  Voytek learns how to entertain the troops by standing on his head and carry heavy loads for the soldiers.  He also knows how to get into a whole heap of trouble.  Voytek steals food, plays with clothing, and chases the other pets in the army.  Voytek's animal friends are Kaska the monkey, Dottie the dalmation, and Stalin the great dane.  These animals go wherever the troops go, right to the heart of the war.  Because of Voytek's spirit, ability to carry weapons, and lovable quality, he is named a mascot of the army and is honored with an emblem, which is put on gear, trucks, and tents.  When the war comes to an end, Peter and his friends take Voytek to live in a zoo in Scotland, where he lives until his death in 1963 at the age of 21.

This book contains content that would be unsuitable for young children to read.  However, I feel that this book would be suitable for high school students who are learning about World War II.  Soldier Bear is serious in some ways, but it also has a light-hearted element that sheds light onto the happiest part of the war for a group of young soldiers.  This book is based on true events.  Voytek was a real bear who aided soldiers during the war.  I feel that this book would be most appropriately used as an additional reading assignment for high school students who are studying about World War II.  Poland was severely broken during the war, so not many stories are told about Poland.  I feel that this book would give an insight into what the realities of war was like for some, but not all, soldiers.  Also, the book will captivate and interest the students merely because it is about a bear who becomes a soldier.  I think students will enjoy this quick read.