Return to the Hundred Acre Wood

Winnie the Pooh toys, games, and colour-in pictures: they all belong to the magical world of childhood. To the joy of children and their parents, Winnie the Pooh books are now getting a new addition too.

The world’s favourite bear of very little brain makes a long-awaited comeback in “Return to the Hundred Acre Wood,” the first sequel of the Winnie-the-Pooh series to have been authorised by the Pooh Trustees.

Written by David Benedictus and illustrated by Mark Burgess, the new book retains its original 1920’s setting and takes off from the poignant ending of the last book, “The House at Pooh Corner,” where Pooh’s ‘owner’ has grown up and heads off to school promising his bear that they’ll remain friends for life.

The Birth of Winnie the Pooh

The original Winnie the Pooh books were written by A.A. Milne for his son Christopher Robin, who owned a teddy bear called Pooh. The stories of Pooh and his friends Tigger, Eeyore, Piglet and a gamut of other lovable characters, later added by Disney when it received production rights, have been a favourite with children across the world.

The Pooh books consisting of “Winnie-the-Pooh”, “When We Were Very Young”, “The House at Pooh Corner”, and “Now We Are Six” have something of a cult status among children’s books. Since his first appearance, Pooh has endeared himself to millions of children and adults with his quirks.

The New Character

Released on October 5, 2009 the new book has received a warm reception among Pooh fans. Pooh Trustees say that it authentically captures the spirit and setting of the Milne-Shepard collaboration.

The original repertoire of characters is retained with a new addition in the form of a female character, Lottie the Otter. A “feisty” character, who always wears her pearls, is good at cricket and is a stickler for etiquette, Lottie is said to make an "ideal new companion for Pooh."

In the style of the other Pooh books, “Return to the Hundred Acre Woods” celebrates the innocence of childhood and friendship. In the words of author David Benedictus, “...the new book will both complement and maintain Milne's idea that whatever happens, a little boy and his bear will always be playing."