Storybook Heroes No 14: Winnie-the-Pooh

NAME Winnie-the-Pooh, or just plain old Pooh for short.

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BORN 14 October, 1926

DEFINING MOMENT Winnie-the-Pooh first appeared in the eponymous book with text by AA Milne, and illustrations by EH Shepard: "Here is Edward Bear, coming downstairs now, bump, bump, bump, on the back of his head, behind Christopher Robin. Is 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. Anyhow, here he is at the bottom, and ready to be introduced to you, Winnie-the-Pooh."

WHY WE LOVE WINNIE-THE-POOH

  • AA Milne's seemingly effortless prose is perfect for reading aloud. Shepard's inspired illustrations aren't bad, either.
  • Pooh Bear is just so loveable, even if he's not the brightest bear in the honeypot (therein lies the attraction).
  • His self-depricating ways, as he refers to himself as "a bear with very little brain", and his cunning plans, like pretending to be a little black rain cloud, that invariably go awry.
  • His close and loving bond with eternal schoolboy Christopher Robin, who's often heard to remark "Silly old bear" in an affectionate voice.
  • Disney's dabblings actually adds to the original stories in the brilliant Many Adventures Of Winnie-the-Pooh. Who can resist singing along with the exuberant and irrepressible bouncy-bouncy fun-fun-fun Tigger?
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READ MORE: The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh is published by Egmont Books

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