Winnie-the-Pooh

9/2/2020

A. A. Milne

Milne was an assistant editor at Punch prior to the first World War. After the war, he wrote and published poetry and plays, including Toad in Toad Hall based on Grahame's Wind in the Willows. Milne's greatest commercial and literary success was Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner, although he did continue to write and publish novels, short stories and non-fiction for adults.

Synopsis

Winnie-the-Pooh is a collection of ten short stories about the daily activities of Christopher Robin's stuffed animals. Each story, told to Christopher Robin by the narrator, recounts various sticky situations or activities -- common to childhood -- through the eyes of the animals.

World Context/Relevance

Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh is much more vital for child development than adult nostalgia or Disney's products would lead us to believe! A child reading - or hearing - the stories witnesses how language builds thoughts and develops the interplay of communication. She observes the development of very different character traits amongst the animals. And notices the use of gentle, but quite dry, humor.

But most important of all, she learns what it means to be a friend.

Friends

want to spend time together
comfort & support
tell the truth in kindness
help & encourage
work together
share & are grateful for gifts
accept differences & laugh at jokes
think of you & rescue you when possible
go on adventures together.

Everyone can use reminder or two from Pooh & friends about how to be a better friend.

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.

E. H. Shepard

Shepard's iconic illustrations of Christopher Robin, Pooh, Piglet and all the inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Wood are a surprisingly small portion of the art he produced over his 97 years. He contributed cartoons to Punch beginning in 1907, continued throughout his postings in WWI and joined the senior staff in 1921. As a prolific painter, Shepard exhibitions included the Royal Society of Artists, Birmingham, Glasgow's Institute of Fine Arts, the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool, the Manchester Art Gallery and the Royal Academy on Piccadilly.

In addition to illustrating all of Milne's works, Shepard worked on many other children's books including Grahame's Wind in the Willows, Burnett's The Secret Garden, and The Cuckoo Clock by Molesworth.

Shepard's original sketches for Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner were donated to London's Victoria and Albert Museum. A few of these items can be viewed online at Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring a Classic.

Learning Connections

There is a myriad of learning connections, lesson plans, and activities available for Winnie-the-Pooh. Here are just a few links and resources focused on the development of the social skills necessary to develop and maintain friendships.

Social Skills

Wanted: A True Friend, worksheet by Worksheetplace.com
Essential Friendship Skills for Kids, Counselor Keri
Friendship, Teacher Planet

Other resource

12 Activities to Celebrate Winnie-the-Pooh, We are Teachers

Ages: 3 - 7; Pre-K to elementary readers; 160 pages.

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