Winnie-the-Pooh is a beautiful bear of ‘very little brain’, as he said so himself. But not many other childhood stories have captured our imaginations, as much as this lovely Bear, who lived in Ashdown Forest in East Sussex, and regularly played Poohsticks, and mused on life with his friends Piglet, Eeyore, Christopher Robin, Tigger, Owl, Kanga & Roo.
What is so wonderful about these books is not just that they are set in beautiful nature, but the wisdom from Pooh is relevant to adults for life. No patronising rubbish, as some of today’s children’s books. These are quite iconic in their wisdom. You could read them age 80, and still be enlightened and amused.
Pooh Bear did not exist in real life, but Ashdown Forest does. A former hunting ground, thankfully today the main pursuits are walking and finding the bridge to play Poohsticks. Just 30 miles from London, AA Milne (who wrote the books) bought a country home nearby and his son writes that they would spend a lot of time in this favourite area of the world, which obviously inspired the setting for the books.
- Get the complete set of Winnie-the-Pooh stories. This beautiful gift edition to celebrate Pooh’s 90th anniversary brings together 4 volumes in one stunning gift book: Winnie-the-Pooh, The House at Pooh Corner, When We Were Very Young and Now We Are Six.
- The Natural World of Winnie-the-Pooh is a scholar’s guide to the home of the world’s most beloved literary bear. Kathryn Aalto offers an enchanting book, where you can visit the ancient black walnut tree on the forest edge, that became Pooh’s house. Or visit the pine trees to find Poohsticks Bridge, and climb to the top of Galleons Lap, where Pooh says goodbye to Christopher Robin.
- The Art of Winnie-the-Pooh focuses on EH Shepard, without whose lovely illustrations of Pooh and friends the books would not be the same. With never-before-published sketches, the book recounts the unique collaboration in the 1920s of these two gifted creatives (the artist continued to produce illustrations up until his death age 96).
- If you’re an adult still nostalgic about your childhood bear friend, read Winnie-the-Pooh’s Little Book of Wisdom. Although he was the ‘bear of very little brain’, he had a lot of wisdom to share, as this adorable volume shows. Covering ‘manners’, ‘keeping trim’ and ‘gastronomic disappointment’, this charming book gives you Pooh’s unique take on life. Here is more of Pooh’s Bear wisdom:
It’s more fun to talk with someone who doesn’t use long, difficult words. But rather short, easy words like ‘What about lunch?’
If the person you are talking to doesn’t appear to be listening. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear.
Don’t underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can’t hear.
Those who have a Brain, never understand anything.
