Children’s Literature

1. Children’s Literature Sara Zadrozny

2. Reception of the books. • A.A. Milne always acknowledged that it was his wife, Daphne, and his young son, Christopher Robin, who inspired him to write the poems and stories. • In Which We are Introduced to Winnie-the-Pooh and Some Bees and the Stories Begin was first printed in the London Evening News on December 24th, 1925 and broadcast by the BBC on Christmas Day by Donald Calthrop.Winnie-the-Pooh was published by Methuen on October 14th, 1926; but for too long, Milne's four classics have been relegated to children's bookshelves and Disney children's cartoons.

3. In 1925, the Milnes bought a farmhouse in Sussex. This ‘enchanted place on the top of the Forest’ was the setting for Milne's stories about Christopher Robin and Pooh. Other toy animals, as well as creatures of the forest, joined in the adventures described in Winnie-the-Pooh (1926) and The House at Pooh Corner (1928).

4. Pictures All the pictures in the Christopher Robin books were drawn by the well-known artist Ernest H. Shepard. His tiny pen-and-ink figures exactly capture the mood of the books.

5. Quotes Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. A.A. Milne

6. One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries. A. A. Milne

7. My spelling is Wobbly. It's good spelling but it Wobbles, and the letters get in the wrong places. A. A. Milne

8. Nostalgia for the 20th century? • AA Milne’s life spanned from 1882 – 1956 • Broadcasting, publishing and merchandising changed over the 20th century. • His relationship with his son went from adoration to distain (and back again). • The author suggests that he was writing for the child in all of us.

9. Suggested further reading: • Carpenter, H. (1985)Secret Gardens • Wullschlager, J. (2009). When We Were very Young. In (eds.) Montgomery, H. and Watson, N. Children’s Literature Classic Texts and Contemporary Trends.