W O J T E K
The bear that went to war
BOOKLIST
Please note that some of the information in the books listed below may not be historically accurate.
The comic, listed first on this page, and available in Polish, English, Italian, and French language versions online, was produced with the support and guidance of Professor Wojciech Narębski, who is the last surviving member of the 22nd Artillery Supply Company, living in Poland, and who therefore witnessed Wojtek's story. This publication can be considered a reliable source of information.
You may also like to read this page for details of Wojtek's story as confirmed by some of the men who served with him.
Publications for young readers can be easily identified by this symbol:
COMIC/KOMIKS
The following publication, produced in comic format, was part of an eTwinning project conducted by the Complex of Textile-Trade Schools, in Żagań, Poland under the supervision of Wioletta Sosnowska and in ITCG Luigi Paolini in Imola, in Italy under the supervision of Angela Riccomi. Wojciech Narębski, who witnessed Wojtek's story as a member of the 22nd Artillery Supply Company acted as a consultant on this Project.
POLISH VERSION (Published 17 October 2010)
Jak niedźwiedź Wojtek Został Żołnierzem
(Prawdziwa Historia Niedzwiedzia,
Żołnierza 2 Korpusu Polskiego)
ENGLISH VERSION (Published 27 February 2011)
How Wojtek, a bear, became a soldier
(The true story of the soldier-bear of the 2nd Polish Corp)
FRENCH VERSION (Published 8 March 2011)
Comment l'ours Wojtek est devenu soldat
(La véritable histoire de l’ours –
soldat du 2čme Corps Polonais)
https://issuu.com/violina/docs/comment_l_ours_wojtek_est_devenu_soldat.
ITALIAN VERSION (Published 9 March 2011)
Come l'orso Wojtek e divenato soldato
(La vera storia dell’orso –
soldato del 2° Corpo d’Armata Polacco)
CASTALDI, Lello and WIŚNIEWSKA, Dorota
Wojtek
Comic in Italian, Polish and Ukrainian languages.
Available for purchase by emailing lellocastaldi@gmail.com
BOOKS IN ENGLISH
Look for these books at your local library, good bookstores, and online booksellers such as Amazon and AbeBooks.
CUTCHIN, James
Once a Hero: The Story of Private Wojtek Bear WWII Soldier
Outskirts Press, 18 September 2015
ISBN10: 1478762888 ISBN13: 9781478762881
DUMAN TAK, Bibi
Soldier Bear
Eerdmans Books for young readers: Translation Edition. 2 February 2011
ISBN: 10: 0802853757 ISBN 13: 9780802853752
NOTES: This book for children is an English translation of the book
written by Bibi Dumon Tak in Dutch under the title of Soldaat Wojtek.
FILABER, Wojciech
The Shepherds of Monte Cassino
Matador, 28 October 2021
ISBN: 9781800464940
NOTES: Children's book available through author’s website.
Fictional story about a team of brave animals lead by Wojtek travelling
to Monte Cassino to fight the enemy.
FILABER, Wojciech
War Bear: Fearless War Hero
Matador, 28 March 2021
ISBN: 9781800461017
NOTES: Children's book available through author’s website.
FILABER, Wojciech
Wojtek Four-Footed War Hero
Wydawnictwo Psychoskok, 2022
ISBN: 9788381199209
NOTES: A story written for young children, from Wojtek's point of view.
Available through author’s website.
HICKS, Peter
Beyond the Call of Duty: Animal Bravery in Wartime
Wayland, 8 January 2015
ISBN10: 0750284153. ISBN13: 9780750284158
NOTES: Book written for young readers.
HIÇYILMAZ Gaye / CAMPLING, Annie
And the Stars Were Gold
Hard Back Edition: Orion Children’s Books,1997
ISBN 10: 1858814804 ISBN 13: 9781858814803
Paperback Edition: Dolphin Paperbacks, 2000
ISBN 10: 1858814812 ISBN 13: 9781858814810
NOTES: Written for young readers. Gaye Hiçyilmaz is an English
writer who has also published under the name, Annie Campling.
HOOD, Susan
BROTHERS IN ARMS: A True World War II Story of Wojtek the Bear
and the Soldiers Who Loved Him
Harper Collins - to be published on 4 October 2022
NOTES: The true story of Wojtek told for young readers.
IVELL, Krystyna and BACZOR, Vi
Wojtek album: collection of Wojtek photographs and anecdotes
Krystyna Ivell, 2013
ISBN 10: 0992632706 ISBN 13: 97-0992632700
NOTES: View Imperial War Museum record here.
MIKULA-DEEGAN, Krystyna
Private Wojtek Soldier Bear
Matador, 29 July 2011
ISBN10: 9781780880037 ISBN13: 978170880037
NOTES: Fictional account based on Wojtek’s story, including historical information.
MORGAN, Geoffrey and LASOCKI, Wiesław,
Soldier Bear
Hard Back Edition: Collins Distribution Service, 1970
ISBN10: 0002117932 ISBN13: 9780002117937
Paperback Edition: Armada Lions. ASIN B0013PW400
MORGAN, Geoffrey and LASOCKI, Wiesław
(editors G. Angielini and D. Kuławiak),
Wojtek Soldier Bear – La Straordinaria Storia di Wojtek
– Conil 2nd Corpo Polacco in Italia
Angelini Photo Editore, 1 April 2010
ISBN 10: 888793049X ISBN13: 9788887930498
NOTES: Multilingual edition (Italian and English)
MOULDER, Bob and McCRORY, Moy
Wojtek: The Bear Who Went to War
Markosia, August 2021
ISBN 10: 1913802906 ISBN 13: 9781913802905
NOTES: Book written for children
ORR, Aileen
Wojtek the Bear: Polish War Hero
Birlinn Ltd. New Edition, 5 June 2014.
ISBN 10: 1843410656 ISBN 13: 9781843410652
Kindle Edition ASIN B006WB2 FN6, 21 June 2012
Dark Cover paperback, ASIN: BO12HU7VDE, 5 June 2014
PAULIN, Garry
Voytek the Soldier Bear: Niedźwiedź Żołnierz o imieniu Wojtek
Garry Paulin, 1 February 2008
ISBN 10: 0955829-50X ISBN 13: 9780955829505
NOTES: Book written for children in Polish and English
POLLOCK, Alan
Wojtek: The Bear Who Went to War
Old Barn Books
Hard Back Edition, 2 May 2019
ISBN 10: 1910646415 ISBN 13: 978191064640
Paperback Edition, 5 September 2019
ISBN 10: 1910646520 ISBN 13: 97819106462526
NOTES: Listen to this children’s book read by the author here
ROBERTSON, Jenny
Wojtek: War Hero Bear
Birlinn Ltd. New Edition 1 May 2014.
ISBN 10: 1780272278 ISBN 13: 9781780272276.
Kindle Edition ASIN: Book 4JT6WW
NOTES: Written for young readers 8 to 12 years
BOOKS IN POLISH
Look for these books at Polish libraries and bookstores.
Some may also be available through Amazon and Polish online booksellers.
FILABER, Wojciech
Niedźwiedź Wojny: Nieustraszony Bohater
Wydawnictwo Psychoskok, 24 March 2021
ISBN 10: 8381198097 ISBN 13: 9788381198097
NOTES: This is the Polish language version of Wojciech Filaber’s children's
book, War Bear: Fearless War Hero and is available through the author’s website.
FILABER, Wojciech
Wojtek, Czworonożny Bohater Wojny
Wydawnictwo Psychoskok, 2022
NOTES: This is the Polish language version of Wojciech Filaber’s
Wojtek Four-Footed War Hero, his book for young children, written from
the point of view of Wojtek, and is available through the author’s website.
LASOCKI, Wiesław
Wojtek spod Monte Cassino
Gryf Publications,1968
ISBN 10: 0901342009 ISBN 13: 9780901342003
NOTES: This Polish language book was written for children.
MIKLASZEWSKA, Maryna
Wojtek z Armii Andersa
Fronda, 2016
ISBN: 9788377859971
NOTES: Available fromlubimyczytac.plwhich offers a choice of stores for E books.
The site will translate into English.
NIEDZIELA-STROBEL, Anna,
Przygody Misia Wojtka, Dzielnego Żołnierza
Fundacja Niepodległości, 2015
ISBN: 9788393930142
NOTES: Children's book written in the Polish language
ORR, Aileen
Niedźwiedź Wojtek. Niezwykły Żołnierz Armii Andersa
Replika, 2017
ISBN 9788376741000
NOTES: This book is the Polish translation of Aileen Orr’s
Wojtek the Bear: Polish War Hero.
PAULIN, Garry
Voytek the Soldier Bear: Niedźwiedź Żołnierz o imieniu Wojtek
Garry Paulin, 1 February 2008
ISBN 10: 0955829-50X ISBN 13: 9780955829505
NOTES: Book written for children in Polish and English
PIOTROWSKA, Eliza
Wojtek. Żołnierz bez munduru
Kś. Wojciecha, 2017
ISBN: 9788380650398
NOTES: Polish children's book.
PRZYMANOWSKI, Janusz
Kanonier Wojciech
Wydawnictwo Poznańskie, 1979
ISBN 8321000851
NOTES: Children's book written in Polish
WIERZBICKI, Łukasz
Dziadek i Niedźwiadek - Historia Prawdziwa
Pointa!, 2012
ISBN: 9788392499138
NOTES: Book written for children in Polish
BOOKS IN ITALIAN
CASTALDI, Lello
WOJTEK e la 22a compagnia Rifornimento d'Artiglieria polacco a Venafro
Self published.
Available for purchase from author by emailing lellocastaldi@gmail.com
MORGAN, Geoffrey and LASOCKI, Wiesław
(editors G. Angielini and D. Kuławiak),
Wojtek Soldier Bear – La Straordinaria Storia di Wojtek
– Conil 2nd Corpo Polacco in Italia
Angelini Photo Editore, 1 April 2010
ISBN 10: 888793049X ISBN13: 9788887930498
NOTES: Multilingual edition (Italian and English)
Back to Wojtek intro
Wojtek Stories - True or False?
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NOTES: This book in the Italian language provides detail of Wojtek and the 22nd Artillery Supply Company's time in Venafro during the Battle of Monte Cassino. The author also wrote the book to fill information gaps that he feels have led to a lack of recognition of the contribution of the Polish army to the liberation of Italy.
His notes in Italian follow: "Nel corso degli anni, la presenza del Corpo polacco a Venafro, è entrato in una letteratura più vasta e ricca di testimonianze umane, sociali e culturali: che li rivede oggi gioire insieme e che li vide soffrire tanti anni fa. C'è anche un'altra ragione che è alla base di questa raccolta e della sua sistemazione in un unico testo è: colmare i vuoti d'informazione di una certa storiografia, specie straniera, che troppo spesso in questo dopo guerra ha ignorato il contributo polacco alla compagnia di liberazione."
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