- Home
- My NYPL
My Borrowing
My Shelves
My Community
- Explore
New & Notable
Collections
Made at NYPL
- Research
Electronic Resources
Tools and Services
Collections
- Using the Library
Get Oriented
Services
I am a...
- Locations
- Classes & Events
- Support the Library
- Help
Children's Literature @ NYPL
Winnie-the-Pooh: Celebrating 90 Years
This summer, our beloved Winnie-the-Pooh turns 90. How is that possible you may ask? Winnie, originally known as Edward Bear, was given to Christopher Milne by his parents on his first birthday — August 21, 1921. Who could have guessed that the 18-inch-high teddy bear, from Harrods, would eventually become a literary superstar? Winnie and his companions have been on display at The New York Public Library since September 11, 1987.
The toys have had thousands of visitors over the years, and just the sight of them have moved some to tears. Winnie has also witnessed several marriage proposals, but has had to decline all wedding invitations. Although he is rather elderly and fragile, Winnie still has the power to bring such happiness to all who visit him.
Winnie is hoping to get lots of birthday wishes this year, so get our your pens and paper and make him a card! Children and caregivers are invited to make birthday cards for Winnie at our August 9 craft program. Birthday cards* can be dropped off at the Children's Center at 42nd Street or mailed to the address below. You can also send Winnie a electronic message* through the comment box. Winnie will be checking his mailbox every day.
Winnie-the-Pooh
c/o Children's Center at 42nd Street
The New York Public Library
476 Fifth Avenue, Room 84
New York, NY 10018
On August 20, 2011, the Children's Center will be hosting a party to celebrate Winnie's 90th birthday. We hope that Winnie fans, both young and old, will come in to take part in the festivities and give Winnie their best wishes.
*Please note that all submissions become the property of the Library and will not be returned. By submitting your work to NYPL, you agree that NYPL shall be permitted to use your work freely online and otherwise and that you will not receive compensation for any such uses. If you are not willing to grant NYPL these rights, please do not contribute content to NYPL. Please also make sure that any content you contribute does not infringe on the rights of any third party. We encourage all participants in this activity to read the Library's Privacy Policy as well as the Library's Policy on Patron-Generated Content.
Subscribe to NYPL Blogs RSS Feeds
Discover
Picture of the Day
Marx brothers: Groucho, Harpo, Chico and Zeppo. Billy Rose Theatre Collection.
One of 700,000 pictures in the NYPL Digital Gallery
Comments
Winnie the Pooh exhibit
Submitted by Debbie Carter on July 17, 2011 at 10:25 AM.
One of the city's treasures!
Hi Winnie!
Submitted by Jayda&Jane on July 18, 2011 at 12:40 PM.
Hi Winnie! We love you so much! We can't wait to see your movie! Wow.. 90!! Your getting old(er) what colour is your cane? How's Piglet, Eeyore,Tigger, Rabbit, Gopher, Kanga, Roo, Owl, Bees and Christopher Robin doing? They must be getting old too! How about the honey? Still as yummy as always! Hahahahahaha! (:
Love your Canadian besties! <3
Happy Birthday Winnie-the-Pooh!
Submitted by Mary K on July 19, 2011 at 11:42 AM.
Hi Bear! I got to meet you when I worked at NYPL from 1998-1999; I even got to spend a day with you working at Donnell. How lucky I am! I wish you the happiest of birthdays and I will celebrate by reading your books again. And eating some bread with HUNNY.
happy birthday
Submitted by laura on August 22, 2011 at 5:32 PM.
happy birthday!!!you are my favourite cartoon!
Happy Birthday, Pooh!
Submitted by Cindy C on July 19, 2011 at 1:39 PM.
Happy Birthday, Winnie the Pooh! I decorated my daughter's room with you and your friends from hundred acre wood years ago. I hope you have a 'hunny' good day on your birthday and watch out for those balloons... they might pop!
Happy Birthday, you silly old
Submitted by Julie on July 19, 2011 at 2:59 PM.
Happy Birthday, you silly old bear!
Happy Birthday!
Submitted by Anonymous on July 20, 2011 at 3:50 AM.
Pooh Bear has always had a way of cheering me up. Happy 90th birthday ~
Happy BIG 90!
Submitted by Morgan on July 20, 2011 at 7:02 PM.
Well HELLO Pooh Bear!
I know you are sitting directly behind me,(probably reading over my shoulder)but I wanted to write you a nice little comment and say that you are old, my friend. BUT you are JUST as loved today as you were when you were born! I hope you are enjoying your time with us here at NYPL Childrens Center, get excited for your BIG PARTY here at the library! I'm so sad that I'm going to miss it. =(
Love you Pooh!
Morgan
Happy Birthday Pooh
Submitted by Καιτήgreek on July 20, 2011 at 10:14 PM.
Pooh,
Happy Birthday Pooh!!
I really hope you've had
a great 90 years and many, many more to come!
Happy Birthday Pooh
Submitted by Καιτήgreek on July 20, 2011 at 10:22 PM.
Pooh,
Happy 90th Birthday, Silly Old Bear! You always make me
laugh.
Happy Birthday
Submitted by Di on July 23, 2011 at 4:41 PM.
Happy Birthday, Silly Old Bear! You were a good friend to me during many sickly days as a child. Thanks for bringing many smiles to my face and helping me to feel better. I can't wait to continue to share you wonderful touch with many more children through the coming years.
winnie-the-pooh
Submitted by book lover on July 27, 2011 at 7:07 PM.
Happy birthday winnie-the-pooh you are the nicest bear I know and by far the funniest! I LOVE YOU winnie you silly old bear! Happy 90eth b-day! i've seen most of your movies and some of your books!
Happu birthday! Always loved
Submitted by Anonymous on August 13, 2011 at 7:42 AM.
Happu birthday! Always loved you!
Winnie the Pooh
Submitted by Chris Hickman on August 15, 2011 at 5:52 PM.
Winnie the Pooh is one of my fondest memories from my childhood. I grew up to the stories and even remember the cartoon show I watched everyday. I love Winnie the Pooh still today as a Grown man(30 Years old) but with the same kid at heart feeling for Winnie. I now share my passion for the honey loving bear with my daughter who is three. I gave her my Winnie collectibles must have since taken back my most charished. My baby blanket. I have to hold on to my love of Winnie. Thank You Winnie the Pooh. Thank You
In your honor
Submitted by Maryland Bear on August 17, 2011 at 11:16 AM.
I have a tattoo of you in your "think-think-think" and your hunny pot. I call it my tat-pooh.
Thank you for ninety years of providing joy to "children of all ages".
Have loved you for 76 years
Submitted by Lulu on August 21, 2011 at 1:46 PM.
Happy Birthday, dear Winnie.. i grew up with you, my children grew up with you, my grandchildren grew up with you and i'm hoping to see my great grandchildren enjoy your tales, too
Name that animal
Submitted by Mik on July 30, 2012 at 10:33 AM.
Library curator: Pls explain this mystery of great national importance.
There is an animal at the rear-left of the display case. It looks like a weasel wearing a pearl necklace. There is no description on the display case, and I have not managed to find any picture of it anywhere on the web yet. What's the story?
Looks like
Submitted by Lauren Lampasone on July 30, 2012 at 10:57 AM.
Looks like Lottie the Otter!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/scoutingny/5625828198/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Winnie-the-Pooh_characters#Lottie
More details from the
Submitted by Lauren Lampasone on July 31, 2012 at 1:44 PM.
More details from the managing librarian at the Children's Center at 42nd Street: "That is Lottie the Otter. She is a new character from the authorized sequel, Return to the Hundred Acre Wood (2009), that was written by David Benedictus. He was a Milne family friend and got permission from the Milne Trust to write the sequel. The folks from Penguin, the US publisher of the Winnie stories, gave us Lottie when we had an event for the book launch. They also donated the wallpaper that hangs in the Winnie room.
"Sadly, Lottie's label was removed from the display case when the toys were moved upstairs for the Centennial Exhibit. The label was nowhere to be found when the exhibit case was returned to the Children's Center in March. Lottie should be getting a new label very soon."
Many Happy Returns of the Day!
Submitted by Dolores on December 24, 2012 at 9:11 PM.
Hello, Winnie!
I like to celebrate your birthday on December 24, the day the first Pooh story was published in the newspaper. It is also my birthday, AND the birthday of most of the Poohs who live at my house. But August 21 is a good day to celebrate, too. Some people celebrate Oct. 14, the day the book was published. Winnie, you are lucky you can celebrate all year round!
I hope you are having a nice holiday and you can eat lots of hunny today!
Post new comment