Winnie the Pooh, the toy bear character who lives in Hundred Acre Woods, recently turned 100 years old. Many adults today celebrate the fun loving creature as one of the best characters in children’s literature.
“Winnie the Pooh is so popular because it is very special to families and children in the time period it came out,” Victoria Bright said. She is a librarian at Emerson Public Library.
Pooh first appeared in a poetry book called When We Were Very Young written by author A.A. Milne. The book was published in 1924, according to an online encyclopedia called Britannica. Winnie the Pooh’s hundredth birthday was on January 18, 2024. Why has this toy bear remained popular all these years?
“Many reasons add to Pooh’s lasting popularity: adorable characters, charming stories, timeless messages, and the memories from my own childhood,” librarian Lisa Thomas said. “I can vividly remember reading with my stuffed Pooh characters. It was a simpler time, and there were no electronic distractions. Families read more together.”
Other characters in the Hundred Acre Wood include Tigger, Piglet, and Eeyore – all talking animals.
“Yes, my favorite character is Eeyore,” Thomas added. “He reminds me of someone special. In Pooh stories, Eeyore is part of an important lesson for many: Even if you have a friend who is sad, always include them and be there for them. Eeyore is intelligent and is always around. Even when he is down, he keeps on going.”
In fact, each of Pooh’s friends represent different emotions, Bright added.
The original stuffed Winnie the Pooh doll can be found on display with some of his friends at the New York Public Library, according to the website for the library.
