Happy Birthday, Winnie-the-Pooh!
Piglet, Tigger, Winnie-the-Pooh, Eeyore and Kanga. Image from NYPL Digital Collections, ID: 56597640
Before he was charming young readers around the world, Winnie-the-Pooh, the teddy bear, was a gift for a beloved child—author A.A. Milne's son, Christopher Robin Milne, on his first birthday, August 21, 1921. Over the years, Pooh was joined by other stuffed animals and this merry band of toys served as inspiration for numerous short stories by Milne collected in Winnie-the-Pooh (1926) and The House at Pooh Corner (1928), both illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard. With simple plot lines and earnest, whimsical characters, the adventures and antics of these animals in the Hundred Acre Wood are still read around the world and have earned a permanent place in the literary canon.
The real Winnie-the-Pooh, and his friends Eeyore, Piglet, Kanga, and Tigger (Roo was unfortunately lost in an apple orchard) took up residence at The New York Public Library in 1987 and are visited by thousands of people each year. They are currently part of the Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library’s Treasures where you can see them for yourself (and wish Pooh a happy birthday!) as well as see many other remarkable objects in the Library's world-renowned research collections. Learn more about this permanent exhibition and reserve your free, timed tickets. Can't make it to New York? Here's Winnie's digital exhibition page including an audio description and you can find a video below talking about how Winnie came to live at NYPL.
In honor of Winnie-the-Pooh's 101st birthday, we've put together a book list of stories and history about Pooh and his creator. We also invite you to learn more fun facts about Pooh and explore a historical timeline.
Pack your picnic basket and spend some time in the Hundred Acre Wood
Winnie-the-Pooh
by A.A. Milne; illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard
The adventures of Christopher Robin and his friends, in which Pooh Bear uses a balloon to get honey, Piglet meets a Heffalump, and Eeyore has a birthday.
The House in Pooh Corner
by A.A. Milne, illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard
Return to the Hundred Acre Wood in Milne’s second collection of Pooh stories where you will rediscover all the characters you met in Winnie-the-Pooh: Christopher Robin, Eeyore, Owl, Piglet, Kanga, tiny Roo, and, of course, Pooh himself. Joining them is the thoroughly bouncy and lovable Tigger, who leads the rest into unforgettable adventures.
Try some of Milne's poetry for children (some that features Pooh)
When We Were Very Young
by A.A. Milne; illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard
A collection of poems reflecting the experiences of a little English boy growing up in the early part of the twentieth century.
Now We Are Six
by A.A. Milne; illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard
A collection of poetry, including King John's Christmas, Sneezles, Us Two, Cradle Song, and other poems from the life and imagination of a small child.
Check out these authorized sequels for more adventures
Return to the Hundred Acre Wood
by David Benedictus; illustrated by Mark Burgess
Presents further adventures of Christopher Robin and his animal friends in the Hundred Acre Wood, where the animals anticipate Christopher Robin's return, meet a new friend, and solve the mystery of missing bees.
The Best Bear in All the World
by Paul Bright, Brian Sibley, Jeane Willis, and Kate Saunders; based on the Pooh stories by A. A. Milne with decorations by Mark Burgess in the style of Ernst H. Shepard
The Trustees of the Pooh Properties have commissioned four authors to write in the timeless style of A.A. Milne to create a quartet of charming new adventures for Winnie-the-Pooh, Christopher Robin, and their friends. Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall: take a trip back to the Hundred Acre Wood with a collection of tales sure to delight year-round.
Learn about the real bear (and teddy bear) that inspired Winnie-the-Pooh
Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear
by Lindsay Mattick; illustrated by Sophie Blackall
A picture book adaptation of the story of the real bear who inspired Winnie-the-Pooh describes how the author's great-grandfather, a veterinarian from Winnipeg, rescued a bear cub and took her with him to an English army base during World War I.
Winnie's Great War
by Lindsay Mattick and Josh Greenhut; art by Sophie Blackall
A tale of the real journey undertaken by the bear that inspired the creation of Winnie-the-Pooh, from her early days in the Canadian forest to her travels with the Veterinary Corps across the country and overseas, all the way to the London Zoo.
Winnie: The True Story of the Bear Who Inspired Winnie-the-Pooh
by Sally M. Walker; illustrated by Jonathan D. Voss
A picture book account of the true story that inspired the Winnie-the-Pooh classics follows the experiences of a World War I veterinarian and soldier who rescued a baby bear, made her his regiment's mascot, and introduced her to Christopher Robin at the London Zoo.
The Life and Times of Winnie the Pooh: The Teddy Bear Who Inspired A. A. Milne
by Shirley Harrison
This biography traces the steps of the actual stuffed bear from his creation to his final resting place in the Children's Center of the New York Public Library.
Immerse yourself in Milne's world with these nonfiction titles
Goodbye Christopher Robin: A.A. Milne and the Making of Winnie-the-Pooh
by Ann Thwaite
Goodbye Christopher Robin is a story of celebrity, a story of both the joys and pains of success, and, ultimately, the story of how one man created a series of enchanting tales that brought hope and comfort to an England ravaged by the First World War.
The Natural World of Winnie-the-Pooh: A Walk Through the Forest That Inspired the Hundred Acre Wood
by Kathryn Aalto
Combines natural photography and nostalgic illustrations in a tour of Ashdown Forest, A. A. Milne's inspiration for the Hundred Acre Wood, that includes depictions of Pooh's home in the old black walnut tree, the Poohsticks Bridge, and the enchanted Galleons Lap.
The Enchanted Places
by Christopher Milne
The real Christopher Robin, recalls his early childhood, remembering places where he used to play in Sussex. The Hundred Acre Wood, Galleon's Lap, and Poohsticks Bridge existed not only in the stories and poems but were part of the real world surrounding the Milne home at Cotchford Farm. With deftness and artistry, Milne draws a memorable portrait of his father, and an evocative reconstruction of a happy childhood in London and Sussex.
Come See Winnie and Friends Yourself!
The Winnie-the-Pooh toys are on display at The Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library's Treasures, a free permanent exhibition highlighting our world-renowned research collections. Learn more about visiting the exhibition.
Not in New York? Below, listen to expert Library staff discuss some of the extraordinary items in the permanent Polonsky Exhibition and the collections that house them. Charles Cuykendall Carter, assistant curator in the Carl H. Pforzheimer Collection of Shelley and His Circle, shares how the original Winnie-the-Pooh toys ended up at the Library alongside other beloved pieces of children's literature.
Summaries provided via NYPL’s catalog, which draws from multiple sources. Click through to each book’s title for more.