It's just Me, Pooh

On October 5, 2009, the lovable bear known for getting wedged into tight spots makes his return in the first authorized sequel to A.A. Milne's Pooh series. Return to the Hundred Acre Wood will be written by novelist and playwright David Benedictus, who has adapted several Pooh stories for audio CD. The book will be published in Britain by Egmont Publishing and in the US by the Penguin imprint Dutton's Children's Books. Pooh first appeared in 1926 in Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh, followed by the 1928 sequel The House at Pooh Corner. The well-loved books have been translated into more than 50 languages, including Latin. The author says he intends "to capture the spirit and quality of those original books." I sure hope so! The Pooh books, with charming illustrations by Ernest H. Shepard, are classics, along with When We Were Very Young and Now We Are Six. A recent Pooh spin-off I'm particularly fond of is Positively Pooh: Timeless Wisdom from Pooh (Penguin), with favorite quotes from Pooh texts and Shepard's illustrations. With chapters entitled, for example, "For those Bothersome Days" and "For those Hummy Sorts of Day," this book makes a great gift for Pooh lovers of all ages.