The first authorized Winnie-the-Pooh sequel in more than 80 years is out on Monday; however, it is also inviting the question, “Why not? Why do it at all?”
Michael Brown, chairman of the pooh Properties Trust, said “Some people said it shouldn’t be done, and there will still be some of that now, this feeling that this is a gleaming jewel in the world of children’s books and don’t miss around with it. This doesn’t damage the original stories at all, though, and allows us to continue the stories in a world of kindness, cheerfulness, laughter, and fun.”
“Return to the Hundred Acre Wood,” contains of 10 stories by well known English writer, David Benedictus, illustrations by Mark Burgess, an English writer and illustrator of many children’s books, and published by Dutton Children’s Books. Dutton published the first four books in which Pooh appears.
The exciting thing is, readers of “Return to the Hundred Acre Wood” will find that time has not passed in that world. Christopher Robin is back from boarding school to hang out with the gang, Pooh still cannot spell, and there’s a new best friend in the circle of animals! A saucy, pearl-wearing otter named Lottie. Also, Eeyore may be a little more proactive (so he isn’t always the victim), and Pooh may have gained a little weight, but he’s the same old bear.
On the other hand, there has also been a splashy marketing campaign for “return”, with bookstore tea parties and “poohtiques”.
Lisa Von Drasek, the children’s librarian at the Bank Street College of Education in New York, said “the best-case scenario is that it’s excellent, it’s magnificent and it brings more people to the original Pooh books, not the Disneyfied version.” Welcome back little ole’ Pooh Bear!
