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 History!

Winnie in general

Winnie The Pooh is really the most famous bear in the world, he was initially a book written by A. A. Milne but later he became a film star and produced many movies.
About the author

A.A. Milne was born on the 18th January 1882 in London, England and married Dorothy Selincourt in 1913. The year after the marriage, he joined the army and became a signalisation officer. In 1918, he retired from the army and concentrated on writing play scripts. On 21st August 1921 Christopher Robin Milne, the son of A. A. Milne was born. For his first birthday, Christopher Robin received a stuffed animal; a bear who was later named Winnie The Pooh. On 24th, December A. A. Milne wrote a story with the title Winnie The Pooh that was published in 'The Evening Chronicle'. One year later he published another and a year after that, he published a proper book titled, 'Now We Are Six'. In the book, 'The House At Pooh Corner' A. A. Milne introduced the character, Tigger. In 1948, Christopher Robin married his cousin, Lesley Selincourt. In 1952, A. A. Milne had a stroke and became half paralysed. A. A. Milne died on 31st January 1956; by this time, his four childrens' books had been translated into over ten different languages and had sold over seven million copies.
Ernest Shepard

The illustrator of the four books was Ernest Shepard. He was born on 10th December 1887 in London, England also. Since he was very young, he showed a special talent in art. He adored it so much that his father sent him to an artist school. In 1904, he married Florence Chaplin and later, they had two children. Their son had a stuffed animal; a bear also, and named it Growler. Growler was used as a model for Winnie The Pooh, (as he didn't like Christopher Robin's much). Ernest died in 1976.
Why Winnie?

During the First World War, troops from Winnipeg were transported to East Canada. On the journey, a lieutenant called Harry Colebourn bought a bear cub for $20, he named it Winnipeg after his home town; or Winnie for short. Winnie became the mascot of the team and travelled back to England with them. When the troops went to France, Winnie was put in London Zoo. He was very popular, especially with Christopher Robin who was even allowed inside the cage with him! Winnie inspired Christopher Robin to name his stuffed animal after him. The name; Pooh comes from the name of a swan that Christopher Robin knew. And, there you go! That is the history of the name; Winnie the Pooh!
The books

A.A. Milne's books were written of inspiration of his son and all of his stuffed animals. These animals included: a donkey, named Eyeore, a kangaroo, named Kanga and her son named Roo, a piglet, named Piglet, a tiger, named Tigger and of course, a bear, named Winnie the Pooh. The characters Rabbit and Owl were based on the animals that lived around the family's house, which was in Cotchford Farm and which became the 100-Acre Wood. The animals in Christopher Robin's collection was put into the New York Public Library where they still are now.
The movies

In 1961, Disney bought the rights to Winnie the Pooh and in 1966 the first movie, Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree was made. In this, Disney replaced the character Piglet with Gofer who wasn't too popular with the English Folk! So, in the next film, Piglet was back in business! And Disney are still making movies of that loveable bear today!
Today's Winnie

Today, Winnie the Pooh is one of the most famous bears in history and the world. Everyone, young and old, loves him.