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57 of 58 found the following review helpful:
Leaving the Hundred Acre Wood Aug 15, 2010
By Charles
"research physician & father of 3 sons"
Yesterday, I dropped off my oldest son at his dorm room.
Yep, my first of three sons, Trey, left the "fort" (what we call our house). Some of my favorite memories are of our bedtime ritual where I would read to he and his brothers. Then I would strum guitar and we would sing songs. Back then, he was so innocent that he and his brothers thought that I could carry a tune, which I cannot; but I sang anyway. Then I'd strum a lullaby or two before going back to my work (they seldom stayed awake for a third).
There was no mother there. I'd read my medical journals, wash their school uniforms to be ready for the next day, and (here's a secret) sometimes I would read, alone, while my sons slept, more of the adventures of Christopher Robin before putting the book back on the shelf, taking a last peek at my sons, and then going to bed.
Remembering those nights brings me more joy than remembering anything that I ever did at work (and as a former ER physician I have literally saved the lives of hundreds).
One of the most magical of the books we read back then, and my favorite for a younger child, is this version of Pooh. If you only know the "Disneyfied" version, then you don't really know Pooh. Here you hear the beauty, and the rhythm, and the vocabulary of slightly antiquated British English; and you learn a sweeter and deeper understanding of the world of Pooh.
Such precious times are childhood--but not perfect times--not without pain. Children (mine own included) know the pain of divorce, death, and turmoil. But, what better can a parent do than to fight to protect the magic of childhood?
This volume will go far towards both protecting and nurturing that magic.
In the last story of the series, Christopher Robin and Pooh sit and talk about how Christopher will be leaving the Hundred Acre Wood--and not coming back. I'm not sure that I ever made it through that one with a dry eye.
So, yesterday, as I drove away from my son's college dorm, leaving him there to find his place on the globe; as I made my own way home, alone with only my memories and the highway in front of me, I gave thanks for the time he and I spent together in our Fort, there in the middle of his Hundred-Acre-Wood. I remembered the round faces of he and his brothers, which (no matter what the bully did that day) lit with laughter when we read this book and made up melodies to carry the little rhymes the animals would sing.
I drove and I remembered how 10 years ago I would look at the haunting last illustration of the book, Christopher Robin and Pooh saying goodbye, and then would look at my sons (ages 8, 6, and 4). I knew then that one day I would be left behind, like Pooh, and with joy and with pain would say goodbye as each son left to enter the future outside the Wood--a place where the father can never go.
Yesterday, that day came.
Here's a tip: Turn off your stupid iPhone and read this book to your child.
62 of 69 found the following review helpful:
My very most favorite book, since I was three! Oct 18, 1999
By .
"Adelie"
My mother introduced me to Edward Bear, Pooh and Co., shortly after a friend gave me a stuffed Pooh, complete with peach-fuzz pelt, little red sweater, and muffler, when I was three. Within weeks, I had memorized most of the poems in the two collateral books ("Now We Are Six," "When We Were Very Young") and all of the Hums... "The more it rains, Tiddly-Pom..." Our family alarm soon became "Tut! Tut! It looks like rain!" And our birthday wishes became "Hipy Papy Bth...." and remain so to this day. My stuffed Pooh went everywhere with me, including college and Florida for Spring Break, and to this day, more than 50 years later, resides - what's left of him - in my dresser drawer. I can still recite many of the poems and hums by heart, and my standard baby shower gift, a hardcover library of the children's classics, always includes all four volumes. I can't think of a better, gentler, more fun way to introduce children to the wonders of the imagination, reading, verse, wit, language... you name it. I still have my original four hardcover books and haul them out every so often for a refresher. These books have stood the test of time for all ages of readers, in spite of Disney's disgraceful attempt to co-opt and cutesify them - truly the definition of classic. Indulge yourself and the children in your life - you won't regret it.
50 of 55 found the following review helpful:
Classic Pooh is timeless! Jun 11, 2000
This Silly Old Bear is one of the most-beloved characters in children's literature. Many readers are familiar with the updated Disney version of Pooh. I like that Pooh (my kids LOVE him), but I'm a bigger fan of the original Pooh, now over sixty years old and still as silly and lovable as ever. If you haven't read the original tales, you're in for a treat! Unlike the modern Disney tales, the original Pooh stories aren't vehicles for teaching lessons or imparting values. Instead, the original stories about the adventures of the Bear of Very Little Brain and his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood are simply delightful tales about well-meaning, though slightly addle-brained characters. Half the fun of the original Pooh stories is knowing more than the characters, and laughing at the silly situations they create for themselves. The other half of the fun is listening to the wonderful wordplay A.A. Milne uses to tell the tales. The first chapter, in which Pooh tries to use a balloon to float up to a honey comb and help himself to some honey, introduces Pooh's unique thought processes. He explains his plan to Christopher Robin, "When you go after honey with a balloon, the great thing is not to let the bees know you're coming. Now, if you have a green balloon, they might think you were only part of the tree, and not notice you, and if you have a blue balloon, they might think you were only a part of the sky, and not notice you, and the question is: Which is most likely?" When Christopher Robin asks if the bees might be suspicious of the bear floating beneath the balloon, Pooh says, "They might or they might not. . . You can never tell with bees. . .I shall try to look like a small black cloud. That will deceive them." This is classic Pooh! One note for Tigger fans: Tigger doesn't bounce into the Hundred Acre Wood until the second book, The House at Pooh Corner.
56 of 64 found the following review helpful:
A bear of very little brains . . . Sep 04, 2002
By Victoria Tarrani
"writer, editor, artist, designer"
A. A. Milne would be proud of the interpretation of his story and characters that will always live in the forest of imagination. Ernest H. Shepard's artwork makes this adventure is a visual delight. The characters represent archetypes to which children can identify and relate. As long as there are children and parents to read to them, Winnie the Pooh will remain a favorite storybook classic. * Pooh teaches a positive attitude; he will always get the honey, and get out of predicaments through his friends. His wisdom is simple and easy for children to understand and agree upon.
* Eyore is forlorn, pessimistic, and surprised by the good things that come his way. He never expects to be part of the crowd, but always is included. The emotion is easy to relate to from our own adolescence, and helps adults remember the trials of childhood.
* Tigger and his bouncy tail take us into the air in a never-ending enthusiasm for the joy in life. In addition, he shows the potential of getting into trouble because he does not think about the results.
* Rabbit, practical Rabbit, who is also a sourpuss, shows that we can always miss the joy in life, but if we join with others then good things happen.
* Kanga and baby Roo show the importance of love and protection for parent and child.
* Owl is the wise old teacher who always asks "Who?" in the quest for knowledge, and shows the value of learning.
* Christopher Robin represents the adult, the one who solves problems, and is a constant force even when not present. He is the focus, the thinker, and he shows the value of considering thought before words and actions. Since he is a child, children can see they too have control, make decisions, and find answers. My daughter loves her long worn out book with the torn red cover, and although this book is its replacement, the original stays in the family. Five stars and great thanks to Walt Disney Studios who keeps the Winnie the Pooh light burning. Victoria Tarrani
23 of 25 found the following review helpful:
 "complete tales" better for adults than kids Jan 08, 2001
By M. Lilliquist
I would offer nothing but the highest praise for Milne's classic tales of childhood imagination, but... I humbly suggest that one should buy the individual books if you are intending them for a child's own library: The shorter books are long enough, and they will give the child a feeling of accomplishment when they finish each book, and will also give the impression that there are more stories alltogether. Dutton Children's Books has also published ten individual books by breaking the Winnie-the-Pooh books into stories (e.g. "Piglet Is Entirely Surrounded by Water" and "Pooh Goes Visiting"), unabridged and with Shephard's original illustrations, published by Dutton. Perfect for your youngest readers. That said, if you are looking for something for your own library of for an adult reader, by all means, buy this book!
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