Customer Reviews

A Gallery of Children

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Definitely not just a children's book, it will appeal to the adult in each child and the child in each adult. The most interesting aspect is that each story was written about it's illustration, rather than the other way around. Le Mair's exquisite drawings and Milne's prose and poetry are so woven together that you find yourself flipping back and forth between them as you read.

As with all Milne's stories and verse, these children are strong and independent. The last story, "Castles by the Sea", is politically correct enough to have been written today. Anyone who loves Milne should give these children a try.

Published just after "When We Were Very Young" and before "Winnie-the-Pooh", this book displays a transition in Milne's writing. Although the title would suggest it was written for children, it's probably more correct to say it was written for parents. The stories, while good, are not quite the exciting tales we might tell our children today, but have that distinct rhythm of Milne's that is very soothing and will aid in the children falling asleep. The joy is not so much in the stories themselves, but in the manner in which they are told.

There are eleven stories in the book, and in several you can see the foundations for what would be the Pooh books. He often speaks in the first person, including himself as a character in the stories. In "Miss Waterlow in Bed", we find a character that could easily be Pooh himself. And the real gem of the book is the last story, "Castles By the Sea". Told partly in verse, and partly in prose, it's a fun tale that draws you in. Parents will enjoy getting into the role of the story teller for that one.

Readers who only know the Pooh books might be disappointed in this book, but fans who have read and enjoyed Milne's other works will find this one very familiar and a welcome addition to their collection.