A new Winnie-the-Pooh book has been published to celebrate the joint 90th birthday of the much-loved bear and The Queen
When Winnie-the-Pooh made his debut in 1926, the initial story was dedicated to the newborn Princess Elizabeth. Now, to celebrate their joint 90th birthday, The Queen and the philosophical, honey-eating bear are reunited in a new adventure, which also features Prince George.
Winnie-the-Pooh and the Royal Birthday sees Pooh, Piglet, Christopher Robin and Eeyore travel to London, where Piglet wonders what the Queen’s Guard keep under their bearskins (‘Perhaps a little something to nibble on,’ suggests Pooh).
They are to deliver a special present to The Queen: one of Pooh’s famous ‘hum’ songs. The lively Prince is described as ‘much younger than Christopher Robin and almost as bouncy as Tigger’. He tickles Pooh’s ears and Piglet gives him a red balloon.
The story, which is free to download, was written by Jane Riordan and illustrated in the style of E. H. Shepard by Mark Burgess, who did the first authorised Winnie-the-Pooh sequel in 2009, Return To The Hundred Acre Wood. There is also an audio read-along download available, narrated by Jim Broadbent (www.disney.co.uk).
