By LARRY BALLWAHN | Wilton
In a recent email from Lucille Hemerly, a teacher I worked with at Wilton Elementary School, she mentioned a favorite book that she used to read to her students. The book was A. A. Milne’s “Winnie the Pooh,” the first in the “Pooh” series. I faintly remembered the series from my wife Arlis and I having read it with our children. The email motivated me to read the series again.
The book that I am reviewing is the second in the series, “The House on Pooh Corner.” Perhaps I chose it because Tigger is introduced and we had our own energetic Tigger, our now-grown daughter, Toni.
The book consists of a series of adventures by the Pooh characters in the Hundred Acre Wood. An introduction to some of them follows.
Pooh:
“Pooh began to feel a little more comfortable, because when you are a Bear of Very Little Brain, and you Think of Things, you find sometimes that a Thing which seemed very Thinkish inside you is quite different when it gets out into the open and has other people looking at it.”
. . .
“Bother”
Rabbit:
“After all,” said Rabbit to himself, “Christopher Robin depends on Me. He’s fond of Pooh & Piglet and Eeyore, and so am I, but they haven’t got any brain. Not to notice.”
. . .
“Yes,” said Piglet, “Rabbit has a brain.” There was a long silence. “I suppose,” said Pooh, “that is why he never understands anything.”
Piglet:
… roaring of the gale above the treetops. “Supposing a tree fell down, Pooh, when we were underneath it?” “Supposing it didn’t,” said Pooh after careful thought. Piglet was comforted by this …
Eeyore:
“it’s snowing still,” said Eeyore gloomily.
. . .
… and Piglet explained to Tigger that he mustn’t mind what Eeyore said because he was always gloomy….
Tigger:
“Can Tiggers fly?” asked Roo. “Yes,” said Tigger, “they’re very good flyers, Tiggers are. Storney good flyers.” “Oo,” said Roo. “Can they fly as well as Owl?” “Yes,” said Tigger. “Only they don’t want to.”
Christopher Robin:
“It’s Christopher Robin!” said Piglet. “He’ll know what to do.”
. . .
Our granddaughter, Cami, called my attention to a topic that was new to me but which I find gets a lot of play on the internet: Pooh characters as examples of mental disorders. Tigger as ADHD, Owl as dyslectic, Eeyore as depressive, etc.
I choose not to go there, but call your attention to it in case you do.
Perhaps it is time to revisit your youth, Pooh and the Hundred Acre Wood.