Silly Old Bear

“When you wake up in the morning, Pooh,” said Piglet at last, “what’s the first thing you say to yourself?”

“What’s for breakfast?” said Pooh. “What do you say, Piglet?”

“I say, I wonder what’s going to happen exciting today?” said Piglet.

Pooh nodded thoughtfully.

“It’s the same thing,” he said (page 147).


The Book  


Growing up, my favorite stuffed animal was a small Winnie-the-Pooh. My favorites VHS tapes were the Disney versions of the classic Hundred Acre Wood stories. But, it wasn’t until recently that I actually read the original book by A.A. Milne.

Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne, with decorations by Ernest H. Shepard is a collection of ten short stories that introduce the world to the animals Christopher Robin loved. They are narrated by A.A. Milne who tells the stories to Christopher Robin. All of the original characters are included, except Tigger who is introduced in Milne’s second book, The House at Pooh Corner. The stories are familiar and the characters act in the same manner as Disney portrayed them.

The stories have a bit of dry humor that makes them enjoyable for children and adults. Milne interjects commentary and questions from Christopher Robin, making it feel like the reader is watching Milne tell the stories. Broken up into ten chapters, each story has a unique title. My favorite is “Chapter 9 in which Piglet is entirely surrounded by water.” It is retold by Disney in Winnie-the-Pooh and the Blustery Day.

The Place


In the introduction of Winnie-the-Pooh, Milne mentions visiting a bear in the London Zoo. That bear would inspire the stories he wrote in 1926. Not many people know that the bear in the London Zoo actually came from Winnipeg, the capitol of Manitoba, Canada.

Last summer I visited my friend in Grand Forks, ND. There isn’t much to do in Grand Forks, but Winnipeg is only three hours away. In the heart of Winnipeg is Assiniboine Park, similar to Central Park in New York City. The park consists of a conservatory, sculpture garden, children’s garden, zoo, duck pond, and numerous walking trails. In the center of Assiniboine Park is a visitor center with the Pooh Gallery. Visitors can see original sketches from the book and the first versions of the stuffed animals from the stories. A short walk from the Pooh Gallery is the zoo. Right inside the gates is a statue of the original “Winnie” and the man who brought him to London, a lieutenant in the Canadian Army.

You can easily spend all day at Assiniboine Park, but if you are in Winnipeg for several days The Forks is another fun attraction. The Forks is located where the Red River and Assiniboine River converge. There are indoor and outdoor shops and restaurants, piers onto the river, and an outdoor amphitheater. A glass building towers over the fork and allows you to view the surrounding areas of Winnipeg.