Winnie-the-Pooh

By A.A. Milne

The original classic—starring Christopher Robin, his silly old bear, and a forest full of friends…

Prepare for fun with young Christopher Robin and his stuffed animal friends. There’s his teddy bear, Winnie-the-Pooh; the timid toy pig, Piglet; the gloomy donkey, Eeyore; and the toy kangaroos, Kanga and her son, Roo. There are live animals, as well: the scatterbrained Owl and the practical Rabbit.

Come along as they go on adventures, like Pooh using a balloon to get honey or Piglet meeting a Heffalump. Join the search for Eeyore’s missing tail or help celebrate his birthday. Find out what happens when Pooh visits Rabbit’s house or when Piglet is trapped by a flood. Whatever the occasion, you’ll enjoy the time you spend with Winnie-the-Pooh in the Hundred Acre Wood.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Media
• Release date: Jan 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9781504068208

A.A. Milne

Alan Alexander Milne (1882-1956) was a playwright, an essayist, a novelist, and a short-story writer. He is best known as the creator of a series of children's books about a teddy bear named Winnie-the-Pooh. Milne was also a longtime contributor and assistant editor at the British humor magazine Punch.

Book preview

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Winnie-the-Pooh

A. A. Milne

TO HER

HAND IN HAND WE COME

CHRISTOPHER ROBIN AND I

TO LAY THIS BOOK IN YOUR LAP.

SAY YOU’RE SURPRISED?

SAY YOU LIKE IT?

SAY IT’S JUST WHAT YOU WANTED?

BECAUSE IT’S YOURS—

BECAUSE WE LOVE YOU.

Introduction

If you happen to have read another book about Christopher Robin, you may remember that he once had a swan (or the swan had Christopher Robin, I don’t know which) and that he used to call this swan Pooh. That was a long time ago, and when we said good-bye, we took the name with us, as we didn’t think the swan would want it any more. Well, when Edward Bear said that he would like an exciting name all to himself, Christopher Robin said at once, without stopping to think, that he was Winnie-the-Pooh. And he was. So, as I have explained the Pooh part, I will now explain the rest of it.

You can’t be in London for long without going to the Zoo. There are some people who begin the Zoo at the beginning, called WAYIN, and walk as quickly as they can past every cage until they get to the one called WAYOUT, but the nicest people go straight to the animal they love the most, and stay there. So when Christopher Robin goes to the Zoo, he goes to where the Polar Bears are, and he whispers something to the third keeper from the left, and doors are unlocked, and we wander through dark passages and up steep stairs, until at last we come to the special cage, and the cage is opened, and out trots something brown and furry, and with a happy cry of Oh, Bear! Christopher Robin rushes into its arms. Now this bear’s name is Winnie, which shows what a good name for bears it is, but the funny thing is that we can’t remember whether Winnie is called after Pooh, or Pooh after Winnie. We did know once, but we have forgotten …

I had written as far as this when Piglet looked up and said in his squeaky voice, What about Me? My dear Piglet, I said, the whole book is about you. So it is about Pooh, he squeaked. You see what it is. He is jealous because he thinks Pooh is having a Grand Introduction all to himself. Pooh is the favourite, of course, there’s no denying it, but Piglet comes in for a good many things which Pooh misses; because you can’t take Pooh to school without everybody knowing it, but Piglet is so small that he slips into a pocket, where it is very comforting to feel him when you are not quite sure whether twice seven is twelve or twenty-two. Sometimes he slips out and has a good look in the ink-pot, and in this way he has got more education than Pooh, but Pooh doesn’t mind. Some have brains, and some haven’t, he says, and there it is.

And now all the others are saying, What about Us? So perhaps the best thing to do is to stop writing Introductions and get on with the book.

A. A. M.

CHAPTER I.

in which we are introduced to winnie-the-pooh and some bees, and the stories begin

Here is Edward Bear, coming downstairs now, bump, bump, bump, on the back of his head, behind Christopher Robin. It 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. And then he feels that perhaps there isn’t. Anyhow, here he is at the bottom, and ready to be introduced to you. Winnie-the-Pooh.

When I first heard his name, I said, just as you are going to say, But I thought he was a boy?

So did I, said Christopher Robin.

Then you can’t call him Winnie?

I don’t.

But you said—

He’s Winnie-ther-Pooh. Don’t you know what ‘ther’ means?

Ah, yes, now I do, I said quickly; and I hope you do too, because it is all the explanation you are going to get.

Sometimes Winnie-the-Pooh likes a game of some sort when he comes downstairs, and sometimes he likes to sit quietly in front of the fire and listen to a story. This evening—

What about a story? said Christopher Robin.

What about a story? I said.

Could you very sweetly tell Winnie-the-Pooh one?

I suppose I could, I said. What sort of stories does he like?

About himself. Because he’s that sort of Bear.

Oh, I see.

So could you very sweetly?

I’ll try, I said.

So I tried.

Once upon a time, a very long time ago now, about last Friday, Winnie-the-Pooh lived in a forest all by himself under the name of Sanders.

(What does ‘under the name’ mean? asked Christopher Robin.

It means he had the name over the door in gold letters, and lived under it.

Winnie-the-Pooh wasn’t quite sure, said Christopher Robin.

Now I am, said a growly voice.

Then I will go on, said I.)

One day when he was out walking, he came to an open place in the middle of the forest, and in the middle of this place was a large oak-tree, and, from the top of the tree, there came a loud buzzing-noise.

Winnie-the-Pooh sat down at the foot of the tree, put his head between his paws and began to think.

First of all he said to himself: That buzzing-noise means something. You don’t get a buzzing-noise like that, just buzzing and buzzing, without its meaning something. If there’s a buzzing-noise, somebody’s making a buzzing-noise, and the only reason for making a buzzing-noise that I know of is because you’re a bee.

Then he thought another long time, and said: And the only reason for being a bee that I know of is making honey.

And then he got up, and said: And the only reason for making honey is so as I can eat it. So he began to climb the tree.

He

climbed

and

he

climbed

and

he

climbed,

and

as

he

climbed

he

sang

a

little

song

to

himself.

It

went

like

this:

Isn’t it funny

How a bear likes honey?

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

I wonder why he does?

Then he climbed a little further … and a little further … and then just a little further. By that time he had thought of another song.

It’s a very funny thought that, if Bears were Bees,

They’d build their nests at the bottom of trees.

And that being so (if the Bees were Bears),

We shouldn’t have to climb up all these stairs.

He

Reviews for Winnie-the-Pooh

[crfonten · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the story of Pooh bear and his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood. This is a classic book that teaches the value of friendship.

[oceanna-8 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I thought it was a good book and it was very cute. I would like it more than others because i really love winnie the pooh and when i read it i felt like i was in the hundred acre wood. Its good to read to little kids.

[fastawker · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is one of those books that I thought I had read but really hadn't. I knew all the stories from when I was a child but loved reading them now as an adult. I found myself laughing out loud at these wonderful stories.

[ladytoni_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I used to buy anything Winnie the Pooh when my children and grandchildren were growing up and even at my age I'm enjoying reading this one very much. I still read (supposedly) childrens classics.

[sbenne3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

How can you not love this timeless classic (especially reading it to your kids every night before bed !!). No wonder these characters live on today. The story is endearing and I really enjoyed the writing style - great for kids and the adults who get the pleasure to read to them. If you have little ones, I highly recommend adding it to your list.

[isaacfellows · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

To put it simply, this is (despite its age) one of the freshest works of fiction I've read in a long time. The playful approach to narration and the perfectly integrated illustrations (which are themselves some of the best and freshest examples of their kind I've seen) amaze me; but really it's the snappy language, the perfect turns of phrase that have stayed with me. This is a Sustaining Book, a true masterpiece that's all the more so masterful for seeming so easy, almost accidental.

[sean191 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I might be jumping ahead, reading to my son before he's even born and able to express his preferences, but maybe that's all the more reason to be reading this classics now...A.A. Milne's book is really enjoyable. It's smart enough to have some laughs for adults without any raunchiness - just wit. It's also action-packed in a gentle, non-anxiety-inducing-way for the toddlers that you're trying to usher off into dreamtime.

[daisy_may-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Delightful, and full of witty, gentle humour. I'm so glad I've finally read it properly, rather than just skimming through, and surprised it's taken me so long to do so.

[becks2611 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A wonderful childhood tale of a boy and his bear that chronicles their adventures in the Hundred Acre Wood. A true classic for children and adults of all ages!

[isatyajeet · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This...this teaches you life!

[merkabaza · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A wonderfully innocent and charming read. Characters that any child would instantly fall in love with and a world that holds a great multitude of exciting adventures.

[lefty33 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Delightful stories of the Hundred-Acre Wood and all of its lovable characters. Pooh and friends have quite a few adventures (or misadventures) in this collection of Winnie-the-Pooh stories. The stories remind me of childhood, making them special each time I reread them. I wouldn't even be able to choose my favorite chapter in this book -- each one is full of wonder, laughter, and Pooh.

[clurb · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Re-reading these short stories as an adult I was overwhelmed by the fantastic wit which I'd completely missed as a child. A book-and a philosophy of life- to cherish.

[dasam-5 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A delightful children’s book I never read as a child or to a child. Never too late and not a minute too soon.

[liabee · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I can't remember reading this book as a child, and I didn't read it to mine. What a shame! This was charming, surprisingly dry, and very entertaining, even for an adult. Not surprised that the author and illustrator worked for Punch. It's got that subtle something.

[rbeene-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A childhood favorite.

[beammey · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As if there was any doubt I wasn't going to love Winnie-The-Pooh? It was really nostalgic to read, but it went quick. I can't wait to read the other books in the series. I can understand why these stories are classics. 5 out of 5 stars.

[cassiewinters-2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Disney film stayed very true to this book, but there is a magic in reading the story instead. I enjoyed this immensely and would recommend it to anyone that has seen the films or anyone looking for wholesome tales to tell their children. I was more than pleased with this book and glad it is one of the books I finally read even if it was as an adult.

[kscarlett01 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a classic novel about Winnie the Pooh and his friends that live in the woods with him. This book is a great for children of all ages. The book can be used to focus on the importance of friendship.

[lindsay7564 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I`m a sucker for the kids stories! Love Winnie The Pooh!

[andrewkbrown · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love reading this to my children. The voices of the characters are so distinctive and the language that Milne squeezes into this classic make it a total delight.

[av0415 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I didn't know Winnie-the-Pooh is originally a book. I thought it was first released as a cartoon show. Anyway, this is really an entertaining read. I learned a lot about Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends like Pooh is Edward Bear and he is not very much bright, and Piglet is so small he fits in a pocket.

[librarylou · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

You read this as a child, and fall in love with the characters, and the stories, and then you read it as an adult and find yourself in histerical fits of laughter, and complete and utter belief that this book tells you all you need to know about life and how to deal with it.

[shaunesay · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I had forgotten how funny these actually are. :)

[cheryl_in_cc_nv · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I don't think I've read the whole book straight through more than once, and should again. But I've definitely read all the original chapters, and they do, of course, beat the adaptations all hollow.

[srboone · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

You can't go wrong with Winnie-the-Pooh. This is childhood personified. But childhood is dark as well. Pooh gets shot! Loved it then and I love it now.

[kristymk18-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

So adorable. I loved the TV Show Winnie-the-Pooh growing up and it saddens me that I waited this long to read the books. Cute stories that any child (or adult :D ) will love.

[shahnareads · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love me some Pooh.
<3

[matlock8sarah · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

So cute! It is easy to see why these stories are so iconic. Incredibly funny, cleverly written, and entertaining. Reading these outloud to small children induced lots of giggles. Definitely deserves a place as one of the Top 100.

[satyridae · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Dennis' narration is masterful, delightful and true to the spirit of Milne in every particular. I recommend this audio version without reservation.