Winnie-the-Pooh by A A Milne and E H Shepard
| Winnie-the-Pooh by A A Milne and E H Shepard | |
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| Category: Confident Readers | |
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Reviewer: Sue Magee
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| Summary: A true children's classic which stands the test of time marvellously. Highly recommended. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 160 | Date: February 2016 |
| Publisher: Egmont | |
| ISBN: 978-1405280839 | |
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Is there anyone who doesn't know about Winnie-the-Pooh? You might know him as Pooh Bear and even if you haven't read the stories you'll know about playing Pooh Sticks or The Bear of Very Little Brain. This first book about the bear, originally published in 1926, has been translated into numerous language, including Latin - and that edition featured on the New York Times bestseller list. It's difficult to believe that Pooh will be ninety in October 2016, not least because he's ageless and the books which feature him are not in the least dated.
Pooh Bear was named after a teddy bear owned by A A Milne's son, Christopher Robin and the rest of the boy's toys edged their way into the stories too: Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo and Tigger came from the nursery - and Owl and Rabbit sprang from Milne's imagination. Pooh's forest is Ashdown Forest in Sussex and you can see the landscapes in E H Shepard's decorations. I can spend hours just examining the illustrations in the book (they're in full colour) and I find something new every time I look.
The stories are gently funny and heartwarming and whilst they're targeted at children many adults will readily admit to being fans, probably because of Pooh's character. He is an innocent and really not very bright, but there's no malice in him and somehow everything always works out for the best. He has the wonderful ability to make the need for a snack, particularly of hunny, seem respectable and no one would dare to suggest that his tummy is getting a little bit rounded. Every time I read the stories I'm surprised yet again about how good they are and what a treat to read.
I read a rather sumptuous edition of Winnie-the-Pooh published to coincide with Pooh's ninetieth birthday. It's beautifully presented, complete with silk bookmark and with a very reasonable cover price. It's one of four books and they would individually or collectively make a splendid present of the type which gets handed down to children's children. I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to the Bookbag.
Christopher Robin Milne named his bear after a Canadian Bear he frequently saw at London Zoo - and if you'd like to know the story behind that bear we can recommend Finding Winnie: The Story of the Real Bear Who Inspired Winnie-the-Pooh by Lindsay Mattick and Sophie Blackall. Well, actually, we can't recommend the book highly enough - it's brilliant and educational! There is a modern sequel to Winnie-the-Pooh - Return to the Hundred Acre Wood by David Benedictus which impressed us here at Bookbag Towers.
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You can read more book reviews or buy Winnie-the-Pooh by A A Milne and E H Shepard at Amazon.com.
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