Winnie the Pooh is probably one of the most popular and recognizable characters. The cute and slightly clumsy bear is everyone’s favorite. What makes Winnie the Pooh so special and adorable?

Few people know how this character was created and children today are more used to the movie rather than the book. It all started with a man named A. A. Milne.

According to one version, Canadian troops were transported across the country before their trip to Europe, when they were supposed to take part in World War I. The train stopped at a place called White River, Ontario.

Lieutenant Harry Colebourn decided to use the stop to walk around and make some purchases. He bought a black female bear cub and named it Winnipeg, which was left without its mother. The cub was later called Winnie for short.

Winnie traveled with the soldiers and became their mascot. To get some protection during the turbulent battles, the bear was taken to London Zoo in 1919 and was one of the main attractions there until 1934. Winnie had many friends, one of which was A. A. Milne’s son Christopher Robin. This is how Milne was inspired to start writing.

Christopher named his toy bear Winnie the Pooh, after the favorite bear living in the zoo. In fact, many other characters that Milne described were present in his son’s game room. Some of the other toys that came live in Milne’s books were Eeyore, Tigger, Kanga and Piglet.

Winnie the Pooh was published for the first time on October 14 1926. Several other books came out in 1927 and 1928. All of Milne’s books featured beautiful illustrations created by E. H. Shepard.

The first chapter of the book explains that Winnie the Pooh could be named simply Pooh. The exact quote explains why:

\”But his arms were so stiff … they stayed up straight in the air for more than a week, and whenever a fly came and settled on his nose he had to blow it off. And I think – but I am not sure – that that is why he is always called Pooh.\”

Children all over the world, as well as their parents enjoyed the books about the adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Christopher Robin and their friends living in the forest. Yet, this was only part of the popularity that the character was going to receive. Walt Disney contributed even more to the book’s popularity.

Disney’s daughters loved Winnie the Pooh. They were his inspiration and the animated film became a reality in 1977. In 1993, Winnie the Pooh became the second most popular and loved Disney character after Mickey Mouse.

A second release of “The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh” gave the little bear even more popularity. “Pooh’s Grand Adventure” was released in 1997.

A sequel to the original books was created in October 2009. David Benedictus authored the book “Return to the Hundred Acre Wood.” He refrained from changing the original Milne characters. Instead, Benedictus kept on building over the existing foundations.

Today, Pooh’s popularity remains unchanged. Disney created a televised series presenting the adventures of Pooh and his friends. Children continue enjoying the manner in which the little bear gets into trouble and manages to always find the perfect solution.

Winnie the Pooh has even entered adult territory. In 1982, the book “The Tao of Pooh” came out. Pooh is used as an allegory, making it easy for members of Western society to understand the philosophy of Taoism.

Author Bio: Jamie Highland writes about various family and baby topics. For more info or to check out the pooh baby shower theme or some baby shower gifts, visit My Baby Shower Favors. If you want more articles, visit our site and click on the Contact Us link.

Category: Entertainment
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