Customer Reviews

The Complete Tales of Winnie-The-Pooh

5 star:		(71)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This Silly Old Bear is one of the most-beloved characters in children's literature. Many readers are familiar with the updated Disney version of Pooh. I like that Pooh (my kids LOVE him), but I'm a bigger fan of the original Pooh, now over sixty years old and still as silly and lovable as ever. If you haven't read the original tales, you're in for a treat!

Unlike the modern Disney tales, the original Pooh stories aren't vehicles for teaching lessons or imparting values. Instead, the original stories about the adventures of the Bear of Very Little Brain and his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood are simply delightful tales about well-meaning, though slightly addle-brained characters. Half the fun of the original Pooh stories is knowing more than the characters, and laughing at the silly situations they create for themselves. The other half of the fun is listening to the wonderful wordplay A.A. Milne uses to tell the tales.

The first chapter, in which Pooh tries to use a balloon to float up to a honey comb and help himself to some honey, introduces Pooh's unique thought processes. He explains his plan to Christopher Robin,

"When you go after honey with a balloon, the great thing is not to let the bees know you're coming. Now, if you have a green balloon, they might think you were only part of the tree, and not notice you, and if you have a blue balloon, they might think you were only a part of the sky, and not notice you, and the question is: Which is most likely?"

When Christopher Robin asks if the bees might be suspicious of the bear floating beneath the balloon, Pooh says, "They might or they might not. . . You can never tell with bees. . .I shall try to look like a small black cloud. That will deceive them." This is classic Pooh!

One note for Tigger fans: Tigger doesn't bounce into the Hundred Acre Wood until the second book, The House at Pooh Corner.

My mother introduced me to Edward Bear, Pooh and Co., shortly after a friend gave me a stuffed Pooh, complete with peach-fuzz pelt, little red sweater, and muffler, when I was three. Within weeks, I had memorized most of the poems in the two collateral books ("Now We Are Six," "When We Were Very Young") and all of the Hums... "The more it rains, Tiddly-Pom..." Our family alarm soon became "Tut! Tut! It looks like rain!" And our birthday wishes became "Hipy Papy Bth...." and remain so to this day.

My stuffed Pooh went everywhere with me, including college and Florida for Spring Break, and to this day, more than 50 years later, resides - what's left of him - in my dresser drawer. I can still recite many of the poems and hums by heart, and my standard baby shower gift, a hardcover library of the children's classics, always includes all four volumes.

I can't think of a better, gentler, more fun way to introduce children to the wonders of the imagination, reading, verse, wit, language... you name it. I still have my original four hardcover books and haul them out every so often for a refresher.

These books have stood the test of time for all ages of readers, in spite of Disney's disgraceful attempt to co-opt and cutesify them - truly the definition of classic. Indulge yourself and the children in your life - you won't regret it.

Yesterday, I dropped off my oldest son at his dorm room.

Yep, my first of three sons, Trey, left the "fort" (what we call our house). Some of my favorite memories are of our bedtime ritual where I would read to he and his brothers. Then I would strum guitar and we would sing songs. Back then, he was so innocent that he and his brothers thought that I could carry a tune, which I cannot; but I sang anyway. Then I'd strum a lullaby or two before going back to my work (they seldom stayed awake for a third).

There was no mother there. I'd read my medical journals, wash their school uniforms to be ready for the next day, and (here's a secret) sometimes I would read, alone, while my sons slept, more of the adventures of Christopher Robin before putting the book back on the shelf, taking a last peek at my sons, and then going to bed.

Remembering those nights brings me more joy than remembering anything that I ever did at work (and as a former ER physician I have literally saved the lives of hundreds).

One of the most magical of the books we read back then, and my favorite for a younger child, is this version of Pooh. If you only know the "Disneyfied" version, then you don't really know Pooh. Here you hear the beauty, and the rhythm, and the vocabulary of slightly antiquated British English; and you learn a sweeter and deeper understanding of the world of Pooh.

Such precious times are childhood--but not perfect times--not without pain. Children (mine own included) know the pain of divorce, death, and turmoil. But, what better can a parent do than to fight to protect the magic of childhood?

This volume will go far towards both protecting and nurturing that magic.

In the last story of the series, Christopher Robin and Pooh sit and talk about how Christopher will be leaving the Hundred Acre Wood--and not coming back. I'm not sure that I ever made it through that one with a dry eye.

So, yesterday, as I drove away from my son's college dorm, leaving him there to find his place on the globe; as I made my own way home, alone with only my memories and the highway in front of me, I gave thanks for the time he and I spent together in our Fort, there in the middle of his Hundred-Acre-Wood. I remembered the round faces of he and his brothers, which (no matter what the bully did that day) lit with laughter when we read this book and made up melodies to carry the little rhymes the animals would sing.

I drove and I remembered how 10 years ago I would look at the haunting last illustration of the book, Christopher Robin and Pooh saying goodbye, and then would look at my sons (ages 8, 6, and 4). I knew then that one day I would be left behind, like Pooh, and with joy and with pain would say goodbye as each son left to enter the future outside the Wood--a place where the father can never go.

Yesterday, that day came.

Here's a tip: Turn off your stupid iPhone and read this book to your child.

A. A. Milne would be proud of the interpretation of his story and characters that will always live in the forest of imagination. Ernest H. Shepard's artwork makes this adventure is a visual delight. The characters represent archetypes to which children can identify and relate. As long as there are children and parents to read to them, Winnie the Pooh will remain a favorite storybook classic.

* Pooh teaches a positive attitude; he will always get the honey, and get out of predicaments through his friends. His wisdom is simple and easy for children to understand and agree upon.
* Eyore is forlorn, pessimistic, and surprised by the good things that come his way. He never expects to be part of the crowd, but always is included. The emotion is easy to relate to from our own adolescence, and helps adults remember the trials of childhood.
* Tigger and his bouncy tail take us into the air in a never-ending enthusiasm for the joy in life. In addition, he shows the potential of getting into trouble because he does not think about the results.
* Rabbit, practical Rabbit, who is also a sourpuss, shows that we can always miss the joy in life, but if we join with others then good things happen.
* Kanga and baby Roo show the importance of love and protection for parent and child.
* Owl is the wise old teacher who always asks "Who?" in the quest for knowledge, and shows the value of learning.
* Christopher Robin represents the adult, the one who solves problems, and is a constant force even when not present. He is the focus, the thinker, and he shows the value of considering thought before words and actions. Since he is a child, children can see they too have control, make decisions, and find answers.

My daughter loves her long worn out book with the torn red cover, and although this book is its replacement, the original stays in the family.

Five stars and great thanks to Walt Disney Studios who keeps the Winnie the Pooh light burning.

Victoria Tarrani

I would offer nothing but the highest praise for Milne's classic tales of childhood imagination, but...

I humbly suggest that one should buy the individual books if you are intending them for a child's own library: The shorter books are long enough, and they will give the child a feeling of accomplishment when they finish each book, and will also give the impression that there are more stories alltogether.

Dutton Children's Books has also published ten individual books by breaking the Winnie-the-Pooh books into stories (e.g. "Piglet Is Entirely Surrounded by Water" and "Pooh Goes Visiting"), unabridged and with Shephard's original illustrations, published by Dutton. Perfect for your youngest readers.

That said, if you are looking for something for your own library of for an adult reader, by all means, buy this book!

One doesn't need to be a child to enjoy this book!I originally bought this for my son twenty years ago, and am now purchasing it for my granddaughter. My son still loves reading the stories that he and I enjoyed together in quiet times, "when he was very young". The stories are truly timeless, and the illustrations help evoke a beautiful, simpler time...a must for every library where excellent literature is appreciated.

When I was very small, I was read The House at Pooh Corner, Winnie the Pooh, When We Were Very Small and Now We Are Six by two very old-fashioned aunts who clearly enjoyed them as much as I did. I grew to worship Rabbit and his dry humour, helped by my aunts' similarly subtle and rather understated sense of the ridiculous. Returning to the books as a father some thirty-five years later, I find they're still fresh. While I don't like to suggest that Disney gets it wrong, I should hate for children to get their only notions of the world of Christopher Robin and his toys from the film(s). The books are of a time and a place; 1920's/30's England. Their words were written to be heard or read with an idea of context (cf the audio tapes read by Alan Bennett) With this in mind, it is possible for these books to have a universal appeal. My five-year-old daughter cannot quite get all the, remarkably sophisticated, nuances of A.A. Milne's humour and language, but she laughs in most of the right places just because she enjoys the stories. She keeps on wanting to hear more, and that's strong testimony - and I still find Winnie the Pooh an absolute hoot in places.

For all those who think that Winnie the Pooh is a Disney creation, this book will be a revelation and a delight. The ubiquitous and lovable Disney mass-market version of A.A. Milne's characters cannot compare with the simple wisdom of this children's classic. The writing and humor is far more sophisticated and subtle than the slapstick cartoon version cooked up for mass consumption.

The book also contains an interesting and informative forward and introduction that explains the origin of Winnie the Pooh, that Christopher Robin was really Milne's son and other fascinating facts about Milne's life.

Most importantly, it holds the original stories of Pooh and friends, and the original illustrations by Earnest H. Shepard. These illustrations provide a look at how Pooh first appeared 70 years ago.

The recommended age for this book is four and up, but we have been reading these stories to our son (who is also thoroughly immersed in the Disney version) since he was about two and a half and he loves them. I'm sure he didn't comprehend what was going on in the stories at first, but as time went on, he increasingly continued to understand. He still loves bringing us the book.

This book is a treasure. Anyone who has a child who loves Pooh owes it to him or her to hear the original version. It is fun for adults as well. It is the quintessential addition to any Pooh collection.

Winnie-the-Pooh is as fresh and charming for me today as he was 30 years ago when my parents gave me Winnie-the-Pooh for my 5th birthday. My memories of this book are more vivid than for any other in my childhood. It retains its beauty, simplicity and charm, despite the attempts of Disney to rip the soul out of it.

If you missed the Winnie-the-Pooh books as a child, buy it now and spend a gentle afternoon in the world of imagination. If you are buying it for a child, be encouraged! - you are buying a book that will open up a world for them they will never forget.

This is a book that will entertain and engross your kids without setting "bad examples" or exposing them to anything you'd prefer they didn't find out about just yet. It will teach them about the beauty of friendship and accepting those around us regardless of their failings.

I bought this edition to give to my brother - we had a "custody battle" over our (MY!) treasured 30 yr old copy. It's beautifully presented (but I'm still hanging on to my old one!).

I am 24 years old, and I got this for Christmas last year. Itbrought me back to when I used to read the books in elementaryschool. The best part is that all of the stories I remember are in here. The book has beautiful color illustrations and a nice fabric bookmark attached to the book. Not only are the stories great, so is the presentation. I plan to hold on to it and pass it down to my future children. A great gift idea for Winnie the Pooh Fans of any age, and children who will receive a treasure to pass along for generataions!