Winnie-the-Pooh: 100th Anniversary Edition (Winnie-the-Pooh; The House at Pooh Corner) (The Winnie-the-Pooh Collection)

Born in 1882, Milne created When We Were Very Young (1924) in which Pooh was a character, and went on to feature this bear of very little brain in a total of four books. Disney started animating these tales in 1961, so Pooh and his friends featured largely in my childhood. My brother had a large stuffed version, complete with red velvet vest, and Pooh would often narrate his stories at bedtime.

This 100th anniversary edition is not only bound in Pooh yellow, but is vaguely fuzzy as well. There was a missed opportunity to have a red slipcover for this, but that is more of a Disney interpolation. For a book that came out so long ago, it holds up surprisingly well. The writing still feels crisp and modern, and Pooh's antics are not treated in an overly moralistic way. The 1920s really are the start of the modern era, when children started to be treated as individuals in their own right who made mistakes but were able to learn from them.

This volume includes several favorites, like the heffalump and woozle tales, as well as stories about Eeyore losting his tale, Pooh getting stuck, and Christopher Robin leads an expedition to the North Pole (which makes sense, since Peary and Amundsen were either in recent memory or currently trying to reach that location). Kanga and Roo come to the forest, and there is a birthday party. These stories are all told with a gentle good humor, and are quick enough that each story can probably be read in one or two sittings, depending on the patience of the people involved.

WINNIE-THE-POOH: 100th ANNIVERSARY EDITION is a lovely collection of Winnie-the-Pooh stories. This edition is highly collectible and giftable with a soft felt cover and lovely image. The book includes both WINNIE-THE-POOH and THE HOUSE AT POOH CORNER bound together.

What I loved: These stories are classics for a reason, and it's easy to see why as you read through the stories. The tone is conversational and perfect for reading aloud. Readers are easily pulled into the lives of Christopher Robin and the animals, particularly Edward Bear or Winnie-the-Pooh (Pooh, for short).

The stories include little songs/poems as well as lovely sketch-like illustrations throughout. This helps keep reader interest, especially for budding independent readers. The length of each story is good for this age group, and the stories complete in each chapter, so it is easy to digest. A table of contents at the beginning can help young readers find a particular story, though the two books do have separate lists with the second book beginning in the middle.

The stories flow well and are a pleasure to read with just the right touch of friendship, emotion, and relatable problems that will keep young readers invested. A favorite is "In which Eeyore has a birthday and gets two presents," but there are so many lovely stories it is challenging to pick a favorite!

This giftable edition has a nice soft cover, which is pleasant to the touch. It is also small, so it can be easily carried and brought along on trips. The pages are thin, which makes the book light and easy to hold.

Final verdict: WINNIE-THE-POOH: 100th ANNIVERSARY EDITION is a lovely collection of Winnie-the-Pooh stories, sure to charm fans old and new.