Who Doesn't Love POOH?

Winnie-the-Pooh, the storybook character created by A.A. Milne in 1926, has enchanted the minds and hearts of those, young and old alike, who have taken time to get to know this fascinating bear called Pooh. The stories of Pooh and his friends are classics that have been read to and by children around the world. They’re featured in Disney’s animated films and are still capable of charming the heart and inspiring the imagination. If you aren’t familiar with “Edward Bear”, affectionately nicknamed “Pooh”, this title will fill that empty Pooh space inside you. Once you meet Pooh, you’ll never feel friendless again!

A.A. Milne or Alan Alexander Milne was born in London in 1882. He married Daphne de Selincourt in 1913 and the couple had one child, Christopher Robin. With the help of his stuffed bear, tiger, pig and donkey, the author’s only child would inspire Milne to create the stories of Winnie-the-Pooh. E.H. or Ernest Howard Shepard, widely known illustrator of the Pooh stories and The Wind In The Willows by Kenneth Grahame, visited A.A. Milne at his home on Crotchford Farm and based his illustrations for the Pooh books on Christopher Robin and his stuffed animals. I can’t imagine a more endearing legacy to leave a son with than that left by A.A. Milne on Jan. 31, 1956, when the author who created Winnie-the-Pooh died.

With the purchase of The Complete Tales & Poems of Winnie-the-Pooh, at 557 page worth of Christopher Robin, Winnie-the-Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore and Piglet, the “Pooh” enthusiast can’t go wrong. The book is divided into two parts. The first section is also divided into two distinct sections of stories - Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner. Beneath each section are ten chapters of Pooh tales. The second half of the book, which consists of various poems, is also divided into two separate sections. The first section of poetry is entitled When We Were Very Young and the second, Now We Are Six.

The Complete Tales & Poems of Winnie-the-Pooh would make a wonderful gift for any Pooh lover, be they child or adult. Just inside the front cover is a charming illustration of Pooh, napping (which might be a hint at the intention of this storybook), and a signature line beneath the inscription, This Book Belongs To: “Insert Child’s Name Here”. The cover is illustrated with Christopher Robin and Pooh, sitting back to back, honeybees frame the title and illustration. Below this framing are gold profiles of Pooh, Piglet, Christopher Robin, Owl, Tigger, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo and Rabbit. The back of the book shares this poem:

Wherever they go, and whatever
happens to them on the way,
in that enchanted place on the top
of the Forest, a little boy and
his Bear will always be playing
— The House At Pooh Corner

The copyright on this specific book is 1996 by Dutton Children’s Books, while the copyright of the illustrations is 1992 by Dutton Children’s Books. This edition was especially created in 1997 for the Book-of-the-Month Club by arrangement with Dutton Children’s Books.

Just a glimpse:

Chapter One, Page 1 - In Which - We Are Introduced to Winnie-the-Pooh and Some Bees, and the Stories Begin: this is the first paragraph, illustrated on the left with a blond child descending a staircase with railings. Dangling from his hand behind him and bumping against the stairs is a gold colored stuffed bear.

Here is Edward Bear, coming downstairs now, bump, bump, bump, on the back of his head, behind Christopher Robin. It is, as far as he knows, the only way of coming downstairs, but sometimes he feels that there really is another way, if only he could stop bumping for a moment and think of it. And then he feels that perhaps there isn’t. Anyhow, here he is at the bottom, and ready to be introduced to you. Winnie-the-Pooh.

And so the stories begin.

I loved one of the Poems entitled, The Friend, on page 519. This is in the section of Now We Are Six.

There are lots and lots of people who are always asking things,
Like Dates and Pounds-and-ounces and the names of funny Kings,
And the answer’s either Sixpence or A Hundred Inches Long,
And I know they’ll think me silly if I get the answer wrong.

So Pooh and I go whispering, and Pooh looks very bright,
And says, “Well, I say sixpence, but I don’t suppose I’m right.”
And then it doesn’t matter what the answer ought to be,
‘Cos if he’s right, I’m Right, and if he’s wrong, it isn’t Me.

Doesn’t that one poem just about sum up the wonders and charms of Winnie-the-Pooh?

If you love Pooh or if you know a child who loves Pooh, this book is definitely for you. And, if you’re looking for the perfect bedtime storybook, this is the one. AND - If he’s right, I’m Right - and if he’s wrong, it isn’t Me!