The World of Winnie the Pooh

Story

Winnie-the-Pooh is a kindly bear who lives in the Hundred Acre Wood and has amusing adventures with Christopher Robin and his animal friends, Eeyore, Piglet, Rabbit, Tigger, Owl, Kanga and Roo.

Why we chose it

Winnie-the-Pooh features in four books of stories and poems that have delighted readers of all ages for nearly a hundred years. Children enjoy the lovable characters, gentle humour, and charming illustrations: adults admire Milne’s philosophy and witty turns of phrase.

For many, the Hundred Acre Wood is a comforting fantasy world, something that was particularly valued after the First World War. The books have remained global best sellers and influenced other children’s writers and illustrators, and Pooh has become an icon of Englishness.

Where it came from

Winnie-the-Pooh first appeared on the front page of The London Evening News on Christmas Eve, 1925, in a story for children by Alan Alexander Milne, a successful novelist and playwright. Inspired by his young son, Christopher Robin playing with his soft toys, Milne wrote four books of poems and stories illustrated by the gifted artist Ernest Shepard.

Christopher Robin named a swan Pooh and renamed his toy bear Winnie, after a famous real bear from Winnipeg, Canada. However, the toy bear in Shepard’s drawings is based on his own son’s teddy, Growler. The Hundred Acre Wood is inspired by the Ashdown Forest, near Milne’s home.

Where it went next

In 1966 Disney produced its first Winnie-the-Pooh animation. Since then Disney’s films, games and merchandise have helped Pooh to reach new audiences and become arguably the best-loved bear in the world.

Associated stories

Winnie-the-Pooh appears in two books of children’s poems by Milne and Shepard, When We Were Very Young (1924) and Now We Are Six (1927), and two of stories, Winnie-the Pooh (1926) and The House at Pooh Corner (1928).

In the museum

Find Winnie the Pooh and a game of Poohsticks in the Enchanted Library.