Rein in your feels, because Winnie-the-Pooh is coming back!
Winnie-the-Pooh, our beloved soft-spoken bear with a strong affinity for honey, is making his way back into our hearts and onto our bookshelves relatively soon. According to The Guardian, the publishing company Egmont is planning on releasing an anthology sequel to Return to the Hundred Acre Wood, David Benedictus’ 2009 continuation of the original Pooh stories. The new collection of Winnie-the-Pooh tales are to be released next year to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the original Winnie-the-Pooh story, created by A.A. Milne (who passed away in 1956).
While it hasn’t been decided WHO exactly will write the sequel to the sequel (and for now, the sequel to the sequel remains unnamed), we do know that four writers have already been chosen to craft new Winnie-the-Pooh tales, and that they are “outstanding writers with a real understanding for A. A. Milne’s characters and world.” We also know that Mark Burgess (who has illustrated and written countless children’s books, including the The Return to the Hundred Acre Wood) will be the book’s illustrator. Yay!
The impetus to bring Winnie back totally makes sense. According to a YouGov poll, Winnie-the-Pooh is the most beloved children’s book, outranking Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. And we believe it — can you imagine a childhood WITHOUT Pooh Bear? The thought alone is saddening.
Even though we have a year until the anthology is released, we’re still bonkers excited! In the meantime, let’s look at some vintage illustrations of Winnie to hold us over.
Christopher Robin and Pooh just chillin’, enjoying a fine picnic.
Winnie-the-Pooh taking a balloon trip with some bees.
Pooh providing moral support while Christopher Robin puts his boots on (I feel your boot struggle, Christopher).
Winnie-the-Pooh and Piglet engaging in a pleasant convo of sorts.
Pooh seems to be totally content in the rain because he has all he needs: Jugs and jugs of HONEY.
