On this day in 1926 the book Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne was published by Methuen in London. Our household has celebrated this day each year with my wife baking Winnie-the-Pooh shaped cookies. (Yes, it is a scary thing to be a man in a house of Winnie-the-Pooh celebrations.)
Some say the real birthday is the day Christopher Robin Milne was given his stuffed bear (August 21, 1921). But since I’m in the publishing business, I prefer to mark the date with the publication of the book that started it all. And if you collect rare books, I once found a listing where Ernest Shepherd’s own copy (he was the illustrator) was available for purchase for only $95,000.
So, “Happy 98th birthday!” to Winnie-the-Pooh. (Go bake some Winnie-the-Pooh cookies and celebrate.)
I’m quite comfortable to admit
my fondness for Winnie the Pooh.
It may give other men a fit,
but to deny that which is true
takes from me a precious thing,
jewels of honour and of good
that are the only keys to bring
me back to Hundred Acre Wood,
where I may visit, once again,
my cherished friends of long-past youth
who can staunch shell-shock’s tears and pain,
and who stand sentinel as proof
that though life’s years make a rough whole,
the child still lives in the scarred soul.
Andrew, I appreciated your profound thoughts.
Roberta, thank you so much.
Yes, Andrew!
Pam, thanks!
Always brilliant.
Steve, I’m honoured.
My mom called dad Pooh. When I grew up my friends dubbed me Tigger. This book has wisdom to live by.
Thx for reminding us!
Cute! Does your wife deliver to KC?
That is a wonderful idea for celebrating Pooh’s birthday. Those books were a favorite growing up and, now that I have a child, she’s been enjoying them as well.
Who doesn’t love Winnie-the-Pooh? Happy Birthday, Winnie! And thanks, Mr. Laube, for this delightful reminder. It brings back precious memories.
I was introduced to Winnie-the-Pooh by a friend who quoted the poems as we worked at a summer Bible Conference. Delighted then, I continue to love them now. A great enduring work. Thanks for letting us know this was the date his work was first published. Enjoy your cookies, Steve!
Steve, you never cease to amaze me! I grew up with a set of four A.A. Milne books, and so did my wife. I am forwarding your post to her right now. We were driving through Witherbee, NY, last Thursday and it triggered our reciting one of our favorites, Disobedience:
James James
Morrison Morrison
Weatherby George Dupree
Took great
Care of his Mother,
Though he was only three.
James James Said to his Mother,
“Mother,” he said, said he;
“You must never go down
to the end of the town,
if you don’t go down with me.”
James James
Morrison’s Mother
Put on a golden gown.
James James Morrison’s Mother
Drove to the end of the town.
James James Morrison’s Mother
Said to herself, said she:
“I can get right down
to the end of the town
and be back in time for tea.”
King John
Put up a notice,
“LOST or STOLEN or STRAYED!
JAMES JAMES MORRISON’S MOTHER
SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN MISLAID.
LAST SEEN
WANDERING VAGUELY:
QUITE OF HER OWN ACCORD,
SHE TRIED TO GET DOWN
TO THE END OF THE TOWN –
FORTY SHILLINGS REWARD!”
James James
Morrison Morrison
(Commonly known as Jim)
Told his
Other relations
Not to go blaming him.
James James
Said to his Mother,
“Mother,” he said, said he:
“You must never go down to the end of the town
without consulting me.”
James James
Morrison’s mother
Hasn’t been heard of since.
King John said he was sorry,
So did the Queen and Prince.
King John
(Somebody told me)
Said to a man he knew:
If people go down to the end of the town, well,
what can anyone do?”
(Now then, very softly)
J.J.
M.M.
W.G.Du P.
Took great
C/O his M*****
Though he was only 3.
J.J. said to his M*****
“M*****,” he said, said he:
“You-must-never-go-down-to-the-end-of-the-town-
if-you-don’t-go-down-with-ME!”
Thank you, Steve. Happy Birthday, Winnie and friends.
(P.S. Just curious, but tell us, why did you illustrate your post with the DISNEY illustration instead of one of Ernest Shepherd’s?)
Oh yes, Winnie the Pooh, my favorite childhood philosopher! A few of my favorites include:
“Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.”
“I always get to where I’m going by walking away from where I have been.”
“It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn’t use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like, ‘What about lunch?’”
My sons and I watched the cartoon version faithfully ever Saturday morning when they were growing up.
I love it so much that your wife bakes Pooh cookies, Steve! I shall have to incorporate honey in my lunch today in honor of Pooh.
“How about lunch?” and “Help yourself, Pooh.”
I remember when it first aired on TV. We watched it as a family, as we did most things. My brother, who is 7 years younger than me, had a felt Pooh blanket he carried around with him for years! It was his Poohsie Blanket. haha!
I still love watching Pooh. I have the DVD with the first 3 original episodes. I love how the narrator sometimes interacts with the characters. My special needs daughter, Anna, age 33 (functions at about 18 months) still loves it, too!
I think my favorite character has to be Eeyore, though. I want to hold him and tell him everything is going to be okay.
“Thanks for noticing me.” 🙂
A side note for everyone:
The Winnie the Pooh books are slowly all becoming public domain. For books and music published back then the copyright lasted for 95 years. So, the first book entered the public domain three years ago. This means you can publish a copy yourself without needing permission. You can also write a story using the characters without permission. (WINNIE THE POOH ON MARS).
However, you cannot use any of the Disney forms of the story since those are under Disney’s copyright. I originally licensed a Disney image which may have shown in your email newsletter. But have decided instead to feature the book itself to keep to the theme of the post.
I once read that Queen Elizabeth’s Uncle David (King Edward VIII) gave the young princess her first copy of Winnie-the-Pooh. It was published on the same year as her birth.
Genius writing.
Winnie the Pooh is a secret treasure of mine. He comes into my bad dreams and tells them to go away. No joke. I love his gentle spirit so very much. “Oh bother,” the secret is out!