Small Home Gazette, Spring 2022

History Brief: Silly Old Bear

Winnie-the-Pooh, famous for his love of honey and being a bear of “little brain,” was the creation of writer A.A. Milne and illustrator E.H. Shepard. Milne’s book, Winnie-the-Pooh, was published in 1926—32,000 copies sold in England; 150,000 in the U.S. by year’s end.

Christopher Robin and Winnie-the-Pooh. The original toys (except Roo, which was lost in 1930) are housed in the New York Public Library.

As of January 1, 2022, this first Winnie-the-Pooh book entered public domain, meaning it “can be legally shared, without permission or fee.” In today’s difficult times, maybe it is time to remember a favorite stuffed toy and once again stroll through the enchanted Hundred Acre Wood with Pooh.

Inspired by time spent playing with his son and his stuffed animals, the book follows the adventures of Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga and Roo, and Tigger—and a little boy named Chris­topher Robin (his son, of course).

Shephard’s pen-and-ink drawings were gentle and realistic. The combi­nation of Milne’s insightful but mis­chievous writing style and Shepard’s illustrations created a storybook that offered children a safe place to learn emotional and social skills and to un­derstand individual differences and the importance of being good to others.

And maybe of most importance, the book offered, and still does, an intimate moment between parent and child at bedtime.