7 Winnie-the-Pooh Books for Kids of All Ages

Winnie-the-Pooh: Classic Gift Edition, by A. A. Milne and Ernest H. Shepard
This collectible edition was recently released and not only features the classic story, but also has illustrated endpapers within the gold-foil stamped elegant cover. The cover shows two charming, simple figures: a boy and a bear. Fitting, given that Milne’s son and a little bear were sources of inspiration for the author. Christopher Robin Milne had a stuffed animal he named Winnie, after a pet black bear cub named Winnipeg captured his interest, and Milne started to write stories with this bear, and other fuzzy friends, as the stars. The rest, as they say, is history.

The House at Pooh Corner, by A. A. Milne and Ernest H. Shepard
This followup book from the first in the series introduces readers to Kanga and Roo and Tigger, three memorable characters. Did you know they were also actual toy animals of Milne’s son, Christopher? You can see Kanga and Tigger for yourself at the New York Public Library where they are on display. Apparently Roo went missing back in the 30’s (a familiar problem with parents worldwide). This book is a favorite amongst readers and you will marvel at the wonderful illustrations.

Winnie-the-Pooh’s Giant Lift-the-Flap Book, by A. A. Milne and Ernest H. Shepard
Little readers can get in on the Winnie-the-Pooh action with this board book. Just as Christopher Robin and his animal friends find their way through the woods while learning their letters and numbers, your little one can find their way through this interactive story. With 70 fun flaps, hide-and-seek pages, and adventure on every page, babies and toddlers will appreciate this early introduction to the world of Pooh.

The Best Bear in All the World, by Jeanne Willis, Kate Saunders, Brian Sibley, Mark Burgess, and Paul Bright
Devoted fans will love this compilation of four charming new stories. Four authors were commissioned to write in the style of A.A. Milne and produce new adventures of Pooh, Christopher, and their friends. Each story works around a season—spring, summer, fall, and winter—and treats readers to all new tales. A perfect year-round companion to your existing collection of Winnie-the-Pooh stories.

Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear, by Lindsay Mattick and Sophie Blackall
If you haven’t yet read about the bear that inspired Milne’s Winne-the-Pooh, you will love this picture book. Author Milne’s son, Christopher, had a teddy bear he nicknamed Winnie. What many readers do not know is that the teddy bear was named after a black bear cub. In 1914, a veterinarian tending to horses during World War I rescued a baby bear and named it Winnipeg, after his hometown. The bear became the unofficial mascot for the troop during the war and eventually made a home at the London Zoo. It was there that Winnie and Christopher first met, and thus the inspiration for Winnie-the-Pooh was born.

The Natural World of Winnie-the-Pooh: A Walk Through the Forest that Inspired the Hundred Acre Wood, by Kathryn Aalto
In southeast England there is a place called Ashdown Forest that served as the inspiration for the setting of Winnie-the-Pooh. Illustrator E. H. Shepard spent time in the forest to gather ideas for a set of drawings that he then delivered to Milne, eager to get the job. Shepard was hired and together, the two collaborated on bringing this wildlife haven to life in the pages of every story. This book covers all the flora and fauna of Ashdown, complete with Milne’s stories, Shepard’s illustrations, and photographs of the forest.

The Tao of Pooh, by Benjamin Hoff and Ernest H. Shepard
If you are looking for a little calmness alongside one of your favorite literary characters, look no further. Author Hoff shows us how Pooh offers a great example of Taoism: from simply being, to practicing mindfulness and self-reflection. These ideas (along with the pitfalls of being too busy, too complicated, and too pessimistic) are explained and illustrated through the characters of the Hundred Acre Woods. This book will introduce readers to philosophical thinking through a warm, fuzzy medium. The calm continues in The Te of Piglet.