The House at Pooh Corner is a 1928 collection of Winnie the Pooh stories, some of which are now embedded in modern culture by reading to our children and by watching adaptations on TV. But they are a delightful read for all ages at any time.
The title story is about Winnie the Pooh and Piglet building a house for Eeyore. The other stories are all wonderful – the game of Poohsticks is introduced, Tigger is unbounced, Owl moves into his new home, Piglet tracks the Heffalump, and there is a farewell to Christopher Robin at the end.
Beyond the appeal to young people, there is gentle humor, humanity, compassion, kindness, and some wistful reflections on life. A. A. Milne wrote a series of novels for adults, many screenplays, articles, non-fiction books on war and pacifism, articles, and poetry, but his two books of Pooh stories have withstood the test of time and seem to be timeless in their appeal.
“What do you like doing best in the world, Pooh?”
“Well,” said Pooh, “what I like best-” and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn’t know what it was called. And then he thought that being with Christopher Robin was a very good thing to do, and having Piglet near was a very friendly thing to have; and so, when he had thought it all out, he said, “What I like best in the whole world is Me and Piglet going to see You, and You saying ‘What about a little something?’ and Me saying, ‘Well, I shouldn’t mind a little something, should you, Piglet,’ and it being a hummy sort of day outside, and birds singing.”
“I like that too,” said Christopher Robin, “but what I like doing best is Nothing.
Both Pooh books are favorites and are highly recommended – 4.8 out of 5.0 stars
An audiobook excerpt, just for fun: