When Christopher Robin was a year old, he was given a stuffed bear from Harrods, and later a tiger, pig, and donkey. The idea of bringing these toys to life in a children's book is credited to Daphne Milne.

The real toys of Christopher Robin.

In 1924 Dutton Children's Books was privileged to publish the first of A. A. Milne and Ernest H. Shepard's books for children, When We Were Very Young, a collection of verse.

In several poems, a rather tubby bear was featured. That bear became one of the most beloved literary creations of all time when Winnie-the-Pooh was published on October 14, 1926.

Winnie-the- Pooh has been in print ever since and sold more than 20 million copies in all his many editions.

In 1928, the second of the original Pooh books, The House At Pooh Corner was published. That was followed by Now We Are Six.

Winnie-the-Pooh has appeared not only in books but on a wide range of items, from pottery to postage stamps, bookends to bed linens. He has starred in videos, on radio, and on the stage. His birthday is celebrated by schoolchildren all over the world.
Although A. A. Milne was famous in his lifetime as a contributor to the British humor magazine Punch and as a prolific playwright, his lasting fame, much to his chagrin, has been based on Pooh.

Pooh's career will continue as long as there are readers to take delight in the tales of a rather stout, very lovable bear. 

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A.A. Milne | E.H. Shepard | C.R. Milne | Stories

�  27 mrt 2000