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Dear Book Lovers, Welcome! I am delighted that you have found The Through the Looking Glass blog. For over twenty years I reviewed children's literature titles for my online journal, which came out six times a year. Every book review written for that publication can be found on the Through the Looking Glass website (the link is below). I am now moving in a different direction, though the columns that I write are still book-centric. Instead of writing reviews, I'm offering you columns on topics that have been inspired by wonderful books that I have read. I tell you about the books in question, and describe how they have have impacted me. This may sound peculiar to some of you, but the books that I tend to choose are ones that resonate with me on some level. Therefore, when I read the last page and close the covers, I am not quite the same person that I was when first I started reading the book. The shift in my perspective might be miniscule, but it is still there. The books I am looking are both about adult and children's titles. Some of the children's titles will appeal to adults, while others will not. Some of the adult titles will appeal to younger readers, particularly those who are eager to expand their horizons.
Showing posts with label Winnie the Pooh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Winnie the Pooh. Show all posts

Sunday, July 18, 2010

July is Classic Book Month on TTLG - Day Eight

Winnie the Pooh is one of those children's book characters that both children and adults identify with. His sweet and unaffected ways, his honesty, and his dedication to his friends makes him the kind of character that many of us are happy to reconnect with when we can. Reading the Pooh stories has always given we the warm and comforting feeling that I get when I am in the company of a good friend.


A. A. Milne
Illustrator:  Ernest H. Shepard
For ages 5 and up
Penguin, 2005   ISBN: 978-0142404676
   Lets us hear a story. Christopher Robin has decided that the story he would like to hear should be one about his bear, "Winnie-ther-Pooh." Christopher thinks that Winnie would very much like to hear a story about himself, and so off we go, to the forest, where Winnie-the-Pooh lives.
   In the first story we are told, Pooh, who is very partial to food in general, and honey in particular, decides that he wants to climb a tree because there is a large bee hive at the top. Of course where there are bees there is honey and where there is honey there are Poohs. Pooh first tries climbing up the tree in the old fashioned way, but that turns out to be a painful exercise so he heads off to find Christopher Robin whom he hopes might have a solution to the problem. Sure enough, before long, Pooh is floating up next to the honey bee tree hanging from a large blue balloon. There still is a problem however, and this is that the bees, which are not unintelligent creatures, are beginning to get "suspicious."
   Poor Pooh. This is only the first of several rather uncomfortable adventures, for in the next tale we are told, the bear, who as I have said enjoys food, gets himself stuck in Rabbit's doorway. Pooh blames the size of the doorway, and Rabbit blames the size of Pooh. There is nothing to be done however, for Pooh is stuck tight. All he can do is listen to a "Sustaining Book such as would help and comfort a Wedged Bear in Great Tightness" and wait to get thinner.
What unfortunate bee trees encounter, getting stuck in doorways, chasing Woozles, catching Heffelumps and so much more, Pooh and the reader are kept thoroughly busy right up to the moment when Pooh and Christopher Robin have to go to bed.
   Deliciously funny and with a wonderful use of language and format, A. A. Milne's stories about this loveable bear will never lose their charm. Pooh and his friends speak a language all children will understand, and they make the kinds of mistakes they would understand too. At the same time, there can be do doubt that Pooh delights adults as well with his "hums" and songs, his talk of needing "a little something," and his obvious love and concern for his friends.
   Ernest Shepard's delightful illustrations perfectly capture the personalities of Pooh, Piglet, and their friends.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Return to the hundred Acre Wood - Pooh is back

I am a huge fan of Winnie-the-Pooh. He is one of those characters I fell in love with when I was around four or five, and I have been in love with him ever since. I was a little unsure of what to think of the new Pooh book when I heard about it. Would this book be a tribute to A.A.Milne's creations, or would it be a black spot on the name of all things Pooh?
Well, I now have a copy of Return to the Hundred Acre Wood, and I began to read it within fifteen minutes of recieving it. And within minutes I was chuckling, smiling and nodding my head. So far, the author, David Benedictus, has captured the essence of Poohness. I am only on page 25, but I plan on climbing into bed with the book shortly. Armed with a cup of tea and with my trusty sidekick sitting next to me - the Pooh my godmother made me when I was very little - I will read on. Watch this space for more.

Monday, January 12, 2009

A new Winnie the Pooh book?

The news in the children's book publishing world is rather grim these days. People are losing their jobs, small houses are being bought up, and a lot of restructuring is taking place in many of the bigger houses. In an effort to put a little energy back into the business, some publishers are coming up with what they hope will be "big deal" releases. One of these is the new Winnie-the-Pooh book that Penguin will be releasing on October 5th 2009. David Benedictus is the author of this title and Mark Burgess is the illustrator.

Some Winnie-the-Pooh fans are unhappy about this development. They feel that Pooh should be sacrosanct and that it would be shame to tamper with A.A. Milne's beloved character. Others believe that there is nothing wrong with a new sequel for the series.
I find myself feeling torn between both points of view. On the one hand I love Pooh too much to see him changed in any dramatic way, and on the other I love him so much that I would like to read more Pooh adventures - if they are written in a style that is in keeping with the original Pooh books.
To all you Pooh fans out there - what do you think? Should there be another Pooh book?
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