Wednesday, June 25, 2008

ABC Wednesday--W


The children's story of Winnie-the-Pooh Written by authour A.A. Milne Who attended Westminister School and Trinity College. One of Milne’s teachers Was H.G. Wells.

The illustrations Were done by E.H. Shepard.

Yes it is ABC Wednesday over at Mrs. Nesbitt's place
Just head over there to learn how to participate.

The only W that I could possibly use on ABC Wednesday Would have to be Winnie-the-Pooh of course.
The book was published in October 1926. Milne named the character Winnie-the-Pooh after a teddy bear owned by his son, Christopher Robin Milne, who was the basis for the character Christopher Robin. His toys also lent their names to most of the other characters.

Christopher Milne had named his teddy after Winnipeg, a bear which he and his father often saw at London Zoo, and "Pooh", a swan they had met while on holiday.
Winnipeg the Bear was purchased from a hunter by Canadian Lieutenant Harry Colebourn in White River, Ontario, Canada, while en-route to England during the First World War.
He named the bear "Winnipeg" after his hometown in Winnipeg, Manitoba. "Winnie", as she became known, was surreptitiously brought to England with her owner, and gained unofficial recognition as a regimental mascot.
Colebourn left Winnie at the London Zoo while he and his unit were in France; after the war she was officially donated to the zoo, as she had become a much loved attraction there. Among her many young fans was Christopher Milne.

In the first chapter of Winnie-the-Pooh, Milne offers this explanation of why Winnie-the-Pooh is often called simply "Pooh":
"But his arms were so stiff ... they stayed up straight in the air for more than a week, and whenever a fly came and settled on his nose he had to blow it off. And I think - but I am not sure - that that is why he is always called Pooh."
**********************
Reading and enjoying the story of Winnie-the-Pooh as a young child is probably the main reason why I love reading so much.
And it is definitely why I became a teddy bear collector and lover of all things Bear related.

26 comments:

David said...

Help me if you can, I want to get back to the House at Pooh corner by ten.

Mental P Mama said...

Timeless for me, too.

AphotoAday said...

My childhood (if you don't count the present) was a long time ago, and somehow -- I don't know how -- I totally missed Winnie-the-Pooh in my growing-up.   Interesting information, and I've met my goal of learning something new each day.   Thanks

bobbie said...

Soon as I saw that book cover, I HAD to read your post. I have loved Winnie "ther" Pooh forever. It's the only book - well, one of the few - that can be read to children to their delight, and still be entertaining to the adult doing the reading.

Thank you for the explanations. I did not know all of this.

LZ Blogger said...

You have a BEARY CUTE blog here! ~ jb///

Reader Wil said...

Well thank you for the explanation of the name of Pooh-bear. I own the book myself and I bought some video tapes with Winnie-the-Pooh featuring in them! Great post!

Rena said...

Thanks for all the information. I like the "real" Pooh so much better than the Disney version.

Nervus Rex said...

My very favorite Bear of very little brain!!

Excellent W post!

mrsnesbitt said...

Strangely enough, I have just read in a newspaper that Paddington Bear is 50 today!

Profile Not Available said...

A perfect W! I actually considered something similar - A Wind in the Willows! Love your blog!

Anonymous said...

The beloved Winnie the Pooh! What a great choice for W...

B.T.Bear (esq.) said...

WOW! Wat a grayte choyce for "w"!!!!!
Wa-heyyy!

:@D

Chesapeake Bay Woman said...

Winnie the Pooh is so pure, so innocent, and so exceedingly wonderful. The fact that something I watched as a child was loved by my son and daughter and will be loved by anyone's son and daughters from now through eternity is priceless and an incredible gift.

The story plus the Disney animation equals a masterpiece.

A true masterpiece.

What a great post.

KrisMrsBBradley said...

Ohhhh! I love Pooh! What a great post!

Diana S said...

oh that is a good W. Winnie is definitely loved by all.

Beverly said...

I'm like the person up above who said they missed reading Pooh when they were younger. I may have missed it then, but certainly not with my own children.

You have a delightful blog, and I've seen your name several places. I think I need to come vitit regularly. :-)

Tash said...

I had so much fun reading & watching & singing Pooh bear books/videos/songs when my son was little. Thanks for the reminder & don't forget to play Pooh sticks. Interesting history!

Leslie: said...

This is the BEST W ever! I love Winnie the Pooh and my daughters had all the characters as stuffied. They still love them!

Patty said...

Aww I love Pooh. What a perfect choice for this week.

Daryl said...

Wonderful Whimsical W .. I am sorry I got here so late!

:-Daryl

becky aka theRAV said...

Great choice for a w word. Thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting.

Nydia said...

I alway loved, like so many children, little Pooh stories, that herein Brail it was called "Puff", and recently it's Pooh like around the world. My son still loves watching it on tv and I have an old book that from time to time he asks me to read. Very sweet idea for the ABC post. Thanks for your words on my Wheel post too!
Kisses from Nydia.

Dina said...

Well! I never knew all this history about Winnie-the-Pooh. In Hebrew he is Pooh HaDov (Pooh the Bear).
You have such an original blog!
Shalom, and thanks for visiting Jerusalem.

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

Hooray for Winnie - what a perfect "W" post! I can hardly bear it! (Sorry, I couldn't resist...)

Unknown said...

Great and informative post for the letter!
Have a nice weekend.

Stardust said...

I LOVE Pooh too! Silly old bear he is, but always kind and easy. Great choice for the letter 'W'!