The Classic Winnie-the-Pooh

What a great belated-birthday surprise I had this past weekend from my daughter and son-in-law.  They surprised me with a trip to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston!

One of my favorite characters was there to greet me!

Winnie-the-Pooh
Winnie-the-Pooh
Tubby little cubby all stuffed with fluff…

“A little consideration, a little thought for others, makes all the difference.” ~Eeyore

I have to say I was probably more excited to see this exhibit than all of the youngsters that were there!

Christopher Robin, Winnie-the-Pooh, and their friends are beloved characters in our family. If you get a chance, you have to see this exhibit. Kids will love the little bed, the steps on the halfway down stairs, Eeyore’s house, the bridge, and all of the interactive activities included in the Hundred Acre Wood exhibit. Adults will enjoy the artifacts, letters, photographs, drawings, and history that go along with the Pooh stories written by A. A. Milne and illustrated by E. H. Shepard. There’s so much to see and do that everyone will be entertained.

These pictures I’m including are just a few of the many things to see.

A. A. Milne and Christopher Robin

“One thing you should know, no matter where I go, we’ll always be together.”~Christopher Robin

The inspiration for A. A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh

Pooh and Friends

“A day without a friend is like a pot without a single drop of honey left inside.” ~Winnie-the-Pooh

Treasured Editions

Pop-up Books and Fun Activities

Sketches by E. H. Shepard

“Love is taking a few steps backward maybe even more to give way to the happiness of the person you love.” ~Winnie-the-Pooh

“Any day spent with you is my favorite day.” ~Winnie-the-Pooh

Interactive Play in the “Hundred Aker Wood”

“Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.” ~Winnie-the-Pooh

My feet would love to do some interactive play in these!

A little creativity and Eeyore has a new home!

If you love Winnie-the-Pooh like I do, here are two books that might be of interest to you and your family.

“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” ~Winnie-the-Pooh

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Story Behind the Story

A. A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh stories have always been a big hit in our home. When my daughter was young, one of her favorite stuffed animals was Pooh Bear. As an adult, she still has a soft place in her heart for Pooh and his stories.

At her wedding, guests were seated at tables that displayed quotes from A. A. Milne’s books.

At the dessert table, Tigger had his say.

 

My daughter continues to collect Pooh items.

On a recent visit to the New York Public Library, she was able to see Christopher Robin’s treasures. She was ecstatic.

So when I found a newly published book about Winnie-the-Pooh, I knew I had to get it for my daughter’s collection.

Winnie: The True Story of the Bear Who Inspired Winnie-the-Pooh written by Sally M. Walker and illustrated by Jonathan D. Voss is a heartwarming story about a soldier, a bear cub, and how that cub became famous. It’s the story behind the story.

Harry Colebourn, a soldier in training during World War I, saw a man selling an orphaned bear cub at a train station. As an army veterinarian, Harry knew he could take care of her so he gave the man the money and named her Winnipeg after his company’s hometown in Canada.  “Winnie” became the company’s mascot. When Harry was shipped overseas to England, he took Winnie with him. After he was given orders to care for wounded horses on the battlefield in France, Harry knew it was too dangerous to take Winnie so he contacted the London Zoo. They happily gave Winnie a home with the other cubs in a new area built just for bears. After the war ended and it was time for Harry to return home, he realized Winnie belonged at the zoo and not with him. They sadly parted. Winnie was a gentle and well-loved bear. Youngsters rode on her back and fed her milk. One of Winnie’s friends was a boy named Christopher Robin. He was so fascinated by her, he changed his stuffed bear’s name to Winnie-the-Pooh. Christopher Robin’s father, A. A. Milne, made up stories about Winnie and Christopher. Those stories were turned into books we all know and love.

Voss’s realistic illustrations are done in muted tones. They depict army life and comical scenes with Winnie that add to the warmth of Walker’s story. There is back matter that includes an author’s note providing additional biographical information about Harry Colebourn, Winnie, and A. A. Milne’s books. If you like interesting end pages, this book has a treat for you. There are pictures of Harry Colebourn, Winnie, A. A. Milne with Christopher Robin holding Winnie-the-Pooh, and more. Beneath each picture is an explanatory caption.

That’s the story behind the story. If you’re a Winnie-the-Pooh enthusiast, I recommend this book.

Picture Book Month: It’s a Bear!

I was pawing through some books when I came across one of my all-time favorite bear books, Winnie-The-Pooh, written by A.A. Milne and illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard. I hold this book close to my heart. It has charming characters and many pearls of wisdom. If you’ve never read it, do it!

I can “bearly” contain my excitement when it comes to a good bear book. Bear Snores On, a winner of multiple awards, is one of them. It was written by Karma Wilson and illustrated by Jane Chapman. This book deserves a big bear hug! Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books in 2002, this delightful story is told in rhyme. As the bear snores on, little critters sneak into the bear’s cave. Each brings something to share, and soon they’re having a great time as the bear snores on. When the bear is awakened, he grumbles and growls then whimpers and moans because he missed the party. The critters are more than happy to share. As a new day dawns, the bear is wide awake, but his new-found friends snore on. Jane Chapman used whites and blues to depict the outside scenes. Scenes inside the cave are done in earth tones, giving an otherwise cold, dark cave a warm feeling – just like the book!

Another bear book I’d like to roar about is Baby Bear Sees Blue written and illustrated by Ashley Wolff. This charming book was published in February of this year by Beach Lane Books. Wolff does an excellent job of portraying Mama Bear and Baby Bear as loveable creatures. Each page turn shows Baby Bear discovering different signs and colors found in nature. The illustration of Mama Bear and Baby Bear admiring a rainbow is sweet, but I adore the double spread of Baby Bear and the butterflies! This is a perfect book to introduce and reinforce colors while enjoying a romp through nature with Mama Bear and Baby Bear. Four paws up for this one!

Think, Think, Think

“A quotation is a handy thing to have about, saving one the trouble of thinking for oneself.” ─ A.A. Milne

It’s August. It’s time to stop procrastinating and start thinking about–dare I say it–school and the library. Each year I choose a book to use as a theme for the library. I decorate the walls, bulletin boards, and the reading corner in the school library with characters from the book and add clever sayings.

Do to the fact that I’m still enjoying summer too much, I decided to resurrect a book and characters I used a few years ago. Then I came across an ad in Sunday’s paper from Kohl’s store. Winnie-the-Pooh, Tigger, and Eeyore plush characters are currently on sale for five dollars each and the proceeds from the sales go to support children’s health and education initiatives nationwide. Double whammy–a new theme for the library, using a wonderful old classic while supporting a good cause!   

My enthusiasm is building as I think about the different ways I can share A.A. Milne’s books with my students. Winnie-the-Pooh books are charming. They speak of friendship, love, and kindness while engaging the reader/listener in delightful adventures. My hope is that my students can connect with the characters and appreciate the value of the stories as I did once upon a time. Another added benefit to sharing these books is that Milne left us with some thoughtful quotes that are great for group discussions.

Friendship quotes:

“If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you.” ─ Winnie-the-Pooh

“Never forget me, because if I thought you would, I’d never leave.” ─ Winnie-the-Pooh

“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” ─ Winnie-the-Pooh

“I was walking along looking for somebody, and then suddenly I wasn’t anymore.” ─ Winnie-the-Pooh

 Thinking quotes:

“I’m not lost for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” ─ Winnie-the-Pooh

 “We can’t all and some of us don’t. That’s all there is to it.” ─ Eeyore

“Sometimes,” said Pooh, “the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.”

“Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them.” ─ Eeyore

“You can’t stay in your corner of the forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.” ─ Winnie-the-Pooh

Let the good reads roll!