LoveReading4Kids Says
LoveReading4Kids Says
November 2023 Book of the Month
A sumptuously produced collection of new authorised stories from the highly successful partnership of Jane Riordan and illustrator Mark Burgess, which really celebrates The Hundred Acre Wood, the Ashdown Forest home of the Bear with Very Little Brain and where Jane grew up playing Pooh Sticks in the River Itchen.
There are Ashdown Forest facts at the end of the book too and a new map showing the location of The Slippery Slide where Tigger lands them all in the river, the Prickly Place where the Bramblebeast apparently lurks and helpfully signposts the way to London where Christopher Robin can pursue his interest in Ancient Egyptians at the British Museum.
This author/illustrator partnership first came together for the 95th anniversary of Winnie the Pooh creating Once There Was a Bear. You could immediately tell that this was a labour of love for everyone concerned. Both writer and artist capture the tone and spirit of the original books perfectly and seamlessly extend the stories of these much beloved characters. But in this collection, they have also taken the bold step of creating a completely new character too. Carmen is an irrepressible little dog who is not a Bramblebeast at all, but who believes she is a lion and undoubtedly adds to the fun and occasional chaos.
At the back of the book the author explains the origins of Carmen in a story told by A. A. Milne’s wife in an interview. Apparently, he took a small toy dog, called Carmen, as a mascot when he went off to fight in World War 1. Carmen obviously earned her place in this reassuring and safe world, and I am sure she will soon have her own legions of fans. A delightful collection to add to the cherished and timeless tales.
Joy Court
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About
Winnie-The-Pooh: Tales from the Forest Synopsis
Winnie-the-Pooh Tales from the Forest is a fantastic new authorised sequel story collection by Jane Riordan written in the style of A.A.Milne featuring beautiful, humorous illustrations drawn by Mark Burgess, inspired by E.H.Shepard’s original, iconic decorations.
Jane’s writing is filled with the gentle humour, friendship and life lessons that echo A.A.Milne’s original stories. She has a true gift for conveying the essence of Milne’s characters and the Hundred Acre Wood, while showing her real affection for Winnie-the-Pooh, a true bastion of British literary heritage.
‘One morning, Winnie-the-Pooh woke up with a tingling feeling in his toes that told him Something Good was about to happen …’ This authorised collection celebrates the Hundred Acre Wood.
The seven brand-new stories are set after the timeless tales in Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner. They take us back to much loved places that Milne’s stories and Shepard’s map introduced us to, like Eeyore’s Gloomy Place and the Poohsticks Bridge as well as new settings that Pooh and his friends have adventures in.
The stories also feature trips to the British Museum and the Tower of London. These sequel stories will be enjoyed by both new and long-standing Winnie-the-Pooh fans of all ages. The book makes a perfect gift for the special people in your life whatever their age.
Collect all the Winnie-the-Pooh classic story and poetry collections:
Winnie-the-Pooh The House at Pooh Corner
When We Were Very Young
Now We Are Six Return to the Hundred Acre Wood
The Best Bear in All the World
Once There Was a Bear
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9780008557171 |
| Publication date: |
28th September 2023 |
| Author: |
Jane Riordan |
| Illustrator: |
Mark Burgess |
| Publisher: |
Farshore an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers |
| Format: |
Hardback |
| Pagination: |
107 pages |
| Series: |
Winnie-the-Pooh |
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Press Reviews
Jane Riordan Press Reviews
‘Winnie the Pooh has always been a very special (albeit funny old) bear, not least of all because his books are filled with wonderful words of wisdom.' Stylist magazine
Reviews for Once There Was a Bear;
‘Once There Was A Bear by Jane Riordan is a prequel to the AA Milne Winnie the Pooh books and delightfully decorated by Mark Burgess.’ Stylist magazine
‘Once There Was a Bear is a beautiful hardback’, Artists and Illustrators magazine
‘Often, the original is the best and any attempts to recreate a classic will simply flop. But with Once There Was a Bear the process was so painstaking, the writing so charming and the illustrations such a lovely echo of the past that reading it feels simultaneously like experiencing the very old and the brand new all at once. And we’d say that’s a brief perfectly fulfilled.’ Artists and Illustrators magazine
‘For those who don’t know the background of the bear bought from Harrods and how he met his friends, it’s a treat.’ Daily Mail Christmas gift guide
‘Not only is Winnie-the-Pooh a much-loved character, the appeal of these stories is enduring. They have followed me through my childhood, into adulthood and, now, I can share these cherished books with the next generation. I’m reminded of the power of reading, of shared stories and connection. There’s something wonderful about that.’ Northern Soul
‘It's the forest where Christopher Robin once played, and here, a new generation are keen to retrace Pooh's history.’ WYNT.com
‘radiating the warmth and playfulness of the original stories, Once There Was a Bear is a tribute to The Best Bear in All the World – for ages 5 years to 105 years!’ MyWeekly
‘Jane Riordan has put together a collection of brand-new Pooh stories to revel in, to think with and dream about’ Bookanista Children’s Gift Guide
Author
About Jane Riordan
Jane Riordan originally trained to be a primary school teacher but her love of children's books led to a career in publishing. Since then, she has edited and written countless books for children, most notably Winnie-the-Pooh Goes to London and Once There Was a Bear. The official Winnie-the-Pooh prequel is written in the style of the original Winnie-the-Pooh stories by A.A.Milne with illustrations created by Mark Burgess, that echo E.H.Shepard's iconic original decorations.
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