Happy National Winnie-the-Pooh Day!
National Winnie-the-Pooh Day is celebrated annually to remember the birthday of author Alan Alexander Milne, better known as A. A. Milne, born on January 18, 1882.(1) This year he would have been 127 years old. He is best known for the Winnie-the-Pooh books which are based on stories that he wrote for his son, Christopher Robin Milne, born August 21, 1920. Many have already heard that bit of Pooh history but did you know that Winnie the Pooh is based on a real bear? The name Winnie comes from a bear that Milne’s son visited at the London Zoo.(2) Pooh stories were largely made up from A. A. Milne observing his son while playing with his mother. Using the stuffed animals, Christopher Robin spoke through Pooh and his mother spoke through Piglet and Eeyore.(3) Milne’s four children’s books were published between 1924 and 1928. They include the following:
The books were preceded by “Vespers” which was a poem published in Vanity Fair in 1923. After The House at Pooh Corner, A. A. Milne never wrote about Winnie the Pooh again.(4)
In 1961 Walt Disney acquired the rights to Winnie-the-Pooh from the Milne Estate.(5) Since that time, the characters look a little different and stories have been added in the spirit of the originals.
As I did a little research on the author and the stories, I was reminded in a sweet way of not only my childhood, but that of my children. I never expected the nostalgic journey this revisiting of Pooh would take me on. The words from the first story were so familiar even though I haven’t read or heard them in ages. I bet they would be familiar to you too. Do you remember this story? Pooh was trying to get honey (wasn’t he always) and decided to use a blue balloon and disguise himself as a black cloud.
Did you say the words in your head with the voice you know from the Disney cartoons? I did! I didn’t realize how much I missed them.
Pictured below is a well-loved stuffed Piglet toy that was generously donated to the Hopewell Branch. The middle picture is of a snow globe given to my children. Pooh’s head is in a pot of honey, of course. In the third picture are the initials of my two children’s names decorated with Pooh and Eeyore.
The original toys that belonged to Christopher Robin now live at the New York Public library. You can walk right into the children’s section to see them. There is more information about the exhibit at www.nypl.org.
Please check out the great collection of A.A. Milne and Winnie-the-Pooh materials available to you through the Mercer County Library System. I think you will find they lead you back to Pooh Corner too!
The below list only reflects a small portion of the materials (books, movies, music, etc.) that we have in our catalog. I found these to be most interesting from an adult perspective. Many of them you will also be able to share with the special little ones in your life.
Non Fiction
Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick and Sophie Blackall (2016 Winner of the Caldecott Medal)
A woman tells her young son the true story of how his great-great-grandfather, Captain Harry Colebourn, rescued and learned to love a bear cub in 1914 as he was on his way to take care of soldiers' horses during World War I, and the bear became the inspiration for A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh.
Winnie: The True Story of the Bear Who Inspired Winnie-the-Pooh by Sally M. Walker and Jonathan D. Voss
"When Harry Colebourn saw a baby bear at a train station, he knew he could care for it. Harry was a veterinarian. But he was also a soldier in training during World War I. Harry named the bear Winnie, short for Winnipeg, his company's home town, and he brought her along to the military camp in England. Winnie followed Harry everywhere and slept under his cot every night. Before long, she became the regiment's much-loved mascot. But who could care for the bear when Harry went to battle? Harry found just the right place for Winnie--the London Zoo. There a boy named Christopher Robin played with Winnie--he could care for this bear too!"-- Provided by publisher.
Winnie the Pooh: A Celebration of the Silly Old Bear by Christopher Finch
A tribute to the wonder of Pooh, from his origin and literary success to his brilliant animated career and continued popularity. This is his story, and what a success story it is! But, perhaps more importantly, it is also the story of the art that created his on-screen image, including more than 200 illustrations that detail the evolution of Pooh and his friends from stuffed toys to animated characters.
Fiction
When We Were Very Young (1924) by A. A. Milne
A classic celebration of childhood, A. A. Milne's When We Were Very Young is a collection of poems that have touched the hearts of readers for more than 90 years. His verses sing with a playful innocence, weaving together the worlds of reality and enchanting make-believe. Published two years before Winnie-the-Pooh, careful readers will also discover the very first appearance of the Best Bear in All the World. These treasured poems are perfectly matched by Ernest Shepard's whimsical illustrations, which have delighted countless readers.
Winnie-the-Pooh (1926) by A. A. Milne
Since 1926, Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends--Piglet, Owl, Tigger, and the ever doleful Eeyore--have endured as the unforgettable creations of A.A. Milne, who wrote this book for his son, Christopher Robin, and Ernest H. Shepard, who lovingly gave Pooh and his companions shape.
Now We Are Six (1927) by A. A. Milne
Whether you're six, sixty-six, or anywhere in between, this enchanting collection of verses about Christopher Robin and, of course, Winnie-the-Pooh, will enchant.
The House at Pooh Corner (1928) by A. A. Milne
Return to the Hundred Acre Wood in A.A. Milne's second collection of Pooh stories, The House at Pooh Corner. Here you will rediscover all the characters you met in Winnie-the-Pooh: Christopher Robin, Eeyore, Owl, Piglet, Kanga, tiny Roo, and, of course, Pooh himself. Joining them is the thoroughly bouncy and lovable Tigger, who leads the rest into unforgettable adventures.
A Boy, A Bear, A Balloon by Brittany Rubiano and Mike Wall
Inspired by the Christopher Robin film, Christopher returns to the Hundred Acre Wood for the first time since childhood and reunites with Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore, and the rest of his old friends. As he returns to the life he once knew, Christopher sees the world through new eyes and discovers that even as everything around us seems to change, the most important things remain constant.
Chapter Books
Winnie’s Great War by Lindsay Mattick, Josh Greenhut and Sophie Blackall
"An imagining of the real journey undertaken by the extraordinary bear, from her early days in the Canadian forest to her travels with the Veterinary Corps across the country and overseas, all the way to the London Zoo, where she met Christopher Robin Milne and inspired the creation of Winnie-the-Pooh"-- Provided by publisher.
Christopher Robin by Elizabeth Rudnick, adapter and Alex Ross Perry, creator
"Capturing the heartwarming magic of Walt Disney Studios' upcoming Christopher Robin film, this novelization pulls fans back into the world of Pooh through a book that enables them to relive the story and revisit their old pals whenever they please. Focusing on the power of love, friendship, and family, the novelization invites readers to join Christopher Robin, Pooh, and their friends from the Hundred Acre Wood on an all-new adventure that adds new depth to timeless and beloved characters old and new." -- Amazon.com.
Movies
Both of these motion pictures are rated PG and not meant for very young patrons.
Christopher Robin - Originally released as a motion picture in 2018. Rating: PG
The young boy, who loved taking adventures in the Hundred Acre Wood with a gang of spirited and loveable stuffed animals, has grown up and lost his way. Now it is up to his childhood friends to venture into that world and help Christopher Robin remember the loving and playful boy who is still inside.
Goodbye Christopher Robin - Originally released as a motion picture in 2017. Rating: PG
When author A.A. Milne creates the Winnie-the-Pooh books after World War I, their success comes at a price for the author and his family. Thematic elements, some bullying, war images and brief language.
Websites
https://www.nypl.org/about/locations/schwarzman/childrens-center-42nd-street/pooh
Notes
(1) “NATIONAL WINNIE THE POOH DAY – January 18.” National Day Calendar, 8AD, nationaldaycalendar.com/national-winnie-the-pooh-day-january-18/.
(2) Mattick, Lindsay, and Sophie Blackall. Finding Winnie The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear. Little, Brown and Company, 2015.
(3) Finch, Christopher. Winnie the Pooh A Celebration of the Silly Old Bear, Disney Editions, 2011, p. 24.
(4) Finch, Christopher. Winnie the Pooh A Celebration of the Silly Old Bear, Disney Editions, 2011, pp. 18-19.
(5) Finch, Christopher. Winnie the Pooh A Celebration of the Silly Old Bear, Disney Editions, 2011, p. 34.
(6) Milne, A. A. Winnie-the-Pooh. E.P. Dutton & Company, 1926, p. 13.
- When We Were Very Young (1924)
- Winnie-the-Pooh (1926)
- Now We Are Six (1927)
- The House at Pooh Corner (1928)
The books were preceded by “Vespers” which was a poem published in Vanity Fair in 1923. After The House at Pooh Corner, A. A. Milne never wrote about Winnie the Pooh again.(4)
In 1961 Walt Disney acquired the rights to Winnie-the-Pooh from the Milne Estate.(5) Since that time, the characters look a little different and stories have been added in the spirit of the originals.
As I did a little research on the author and the stories, I was reminded in a sweet way of not only my childhood, but that of my children. I never expected the nostalgic journey this revisiting of Pooh would take me on. The words from the first story were so familiar even though I haven’t read or heard them in ages. I bet they would be familiar to you too. Do you remember this story? Pooh was trying to get honey (wasn’t he always) and decided to use a blue balloon and disguise himself as a black cloud.
“Wouldn’t they notice you underneath the balloon?” you (Christopher Robin) asked.
“They might or they might not,” said Winnie-the-Pooh. “You never can tell with bees.” He thought for a moment and said: “I shall try to look like a small black cloud. That will deceive them.”(6)
Did you say the words in your head with the voice you know from the Disney cartoons? I did! I didn’t realize how much I missed them.
Pictured below is a well-loved stuffed Piglet toy that was generously donated to the Hopewell Branch. The middle picture is of a snow globe given to my children. Pooh’s head is in a pot of honey, of course. In the third picture are the initials of my two children’s names decorated with Pooh and Eeyore.
The original toys that belonged to Christopher Robin now live at the New York Public library. You can walk right into the children’s section to see them. There is more information about the exhibit at www.nypl.org.
Please check out the great collection of A.A. Milne and Winnie-the-Pooh materials available to you through the Mercer County Library System. I think you will find they lead you back to Pooh Corner too!
The below list only reflects a small portion of the materials (books, movies, music, etc.) that we have in our catalog. I found these to be most interesting from an adult perspective. Many of them you will also be able to share with the special little ones in your life.
Non Fiction
Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick and Sophie Blackall (2016 Winner of the Caldecott Medal)
A woman tells her young son the true story of how his great-great-grandfather, Captain Harry Colebourn, rescued and learned to love a bear cub in 1914 as he was on his way to take care of soldiers' horses during World War I, and the bear became the inspiration for A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh.
Winnie: The True Story of the Bear Who Inspired Winnie-the-Pooh by Sally M. Walker and Jonathan D. Voss
"When Harry Colebourn saw a baby bear at a train station, he knew he could care for it. Harry was a veterinarian. But he was also a soldier in training during World War I. Harry named the bear Winnie, short for Winnipeg, his company's home town, and he brought her along to the military camp in England. Winnie followed Harry everywhere and slept under his cot every night. Before long, she became the regiment's much-loved mascot. But who could care for the bear when Harry went to battle? Harry found just the right place for Winnie--the London Zoo. There a boy named Christopher Robin played with Winnie--he could care for this bear too!"-- Provided by publisher.
Winnie the Pooh: A Celebration of the Silly Old Bear by Christopher Finch
A tribute to the wonder of Pooh, from his origin and literary success to his brilliant animated career and continued popularity. This is his story, and what a success story it is! But, perhaps more importantly, it is also the story of the art that created his on-screen image, including more than 200 illustrations that detail the evolution of Pooh and his friends from stuffed toys to animated characters.
Fiction
When We Were Very Young (1924) by A. A. Milne
A classic celebration of childhood, A. A. Milne's When We Were Very Young is a collection of poems that have touched the hearts of readers for more than 90 years. His verses sing with a playful innocence, weaving together the worlds of reality and enchanting make-believe. Published two years before Winnie-the-Pooh, careful readers will also discover the very first appearance of the Best Bear in All the World. These treasured poems are perfectly matched by Ernest Shepard's whimsical illustrations, which have delighted countless readers.
Winnie-the-Pooh (1926) by A. A. Milne
Since 1926, Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends--Piglet, Owl, Tigger, and the ever doleful Eeyore--have endured as the unforgettable creations of A.A. Milne, who wrote this book for his son, Christopher Robin, and Ernest H. Shepard, who lovingly gave Pooh and his companions shape.
Now We Are Six (1927) by A. A. Milne
Whether you're six, sixty-six, or anywhere in between, this enchanting collection of verses about Christopher Robin and, of course, Winnie-the-Pooh, will enchant.
The House at Pooh Corner (1928) by A. A. Milne
Return to the Hundred Acre Wood in A.A. Milne's second collection of Pooh stories, The House at Pooh Corner. Here you will rediscover all the characters you met in Winnie-the-Pooh: Christopher Robin, Eeyore, Owl, Piglet, Kanga, tiny Roo, and, of course, Pooh himself. Joining them is the thoroughly bouncy and lovable Tigger, who leads the rest into unforgettable adventures.
A Boy, A Bear, A Balloon by Brittany Rubiano and Mike Wall
Inspired by the Christopher Robin film, Christopher returns to the Hundred Acre Wood for the first time since childhood and reunites with Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore, and the rest of his old friends. As he returns to the life he once knew, Christopher sees the world through new eyes and discovers that even as everything around us seems to change, the most important things remain constant.
Chapter Books
Winnie’s Great War by Lindsay Mattick, Josh Greenhut and Sophie Blackall
"An imagining of the real journey undertaken by the extraordinary bear, from her early days in the Canadian forest to her travels with the Veterinary Corps across the country and overseas, all the way to the London Zoo, where she met Christopher Robin Milne and inspired the creation of Winnie-the-Pooh"-- Provided by publisher.
Christopher Robin by Elizabeth Rudnick, adapter and Alex Ross Perry, creator
"Capturing the heartwarming magic of Walt Disney Studios' upcoming Christopher Robin film, this novelization pulls fans back into the world of Pooh through a book that enables them to relive the story and revisit their old pals whenever they please. Focusing on the power of love, friendship, and family, the novelization invites readers to join Christopher Robin, Pooh, and their friends from the Hundred Acre Wood on an all-new adventure that adds new depth to timeless and beloved characters old and new." -- Amazon.com.
Movies
Both of these motion pictures are rated PG and not meant for very young patrons.
Christopher Robin - Originally released as a motion picture in 2018. Rating: PG
The young boy, who loved taking adventures in the Hundred Acre Wood with a gang of spirited and loveable stuffed animals, has grown up and lost his way. Now it is up to his childhood friends to venture into that world and help Christopher Robin remember the loving and playful boy who is still inside.
Goodbye Christopher Robin - Originally released as a motion picture in 2017. Rating: PG
When author A.A. Milne creates the Winnie-the-Pooh books after World War I, their success comes at a price for the author and his family. Thematic elements, some bullying, war images and brief language.
Websites
https://www.nypl.org/about/locations/schwarzman/childrens-center-42nd-street/pooh
Notes
(1) “NATIONAL WINNIE THE POOH DAY – January 18.” National Day Calendar, 8AD, nationaldaycalendar.com/national-winnie-the-pooh-day-january-18/.
(2) Mattick, Lindsay, and Sophie Blackall. Finding Winnie The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear. Little, Brown and Company, 2015.
(3) Finch, Christopher. Winnie the Pooh A Celebration of the Silly Old Bear, Disney Editions, 2011, p. 24.
(4) Finch, Christopher. Winnie the Pooh A Celebration of the Silly Old Bear, Disney Editions, 2011, pp. 18-19.
(5) Finch, Christopher. Winnie the Pooh A Celebration of the Silly Old Bear, Disney Editions, 2011, p. 34.
(6) Milne, A. A. Winnie-the-Pooh. E.P. Dutton & Company, 1926, p. 13.
- Connie, Hopewell Branch
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