Tales from the Forest carries on the adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh in a style that faithfully echoes the original.
Tales from the Forest by Jane Riordan, illustrated by Mark Burgess. Dutton (PRH), 2024, 107 pages.
Reading Level: Chapter Book, ages 7-9
Recommended for: ages 3-7 as a Read-aloud, 7-10 for independent readers
With the assistance of the Pooh Properties, the Shepherd Trust, and the Ashdown Forest Conservators, Jane Riordan has written several chapter books and picture books spinning off the A.A. Milne stories. With this one she takes the bold step of introducing a new character. But before we get there, Tales from the Forest begins as all Pooh adventures should, with a map.
Christopher Robin once drew a map of the Hundred Acre Wood and Mr. Shepherd helped. That is a very good map, but because Pooh Bear and his friends are such Great Adventurers, Pooh wanted to add more places to it.
In this collection of seven stories, Pooh searches for a four-leaf clover, Piglet finds a (crown) jewel, Tigger proves his prowess at a good many things, Eyeore acquires a warren-load of friends, Rabbit is bombarded by a Bramblebeast, everyone builds pyramids, and Owl doesn’t sleep. Riordan effectively echoes Milne’s wry and gentle humor and Burgess’s “decorations” are hard to distinguish from E.H. Shepherd (all four authors and illustrators receive credit on the book jacket).
The added character is an energetic puppy named Carmen, based on the toy dog Milne had taken to the trenches with him during World War I. Nothing is known about Carmen’s breed, color, or even gender, but here she’s a brown and white terrier who imagines herself a fierce lion. I suspect only a Pooh purist will resent her inclusion in the last three stories.
Bottom Line: A cozy read-aloud for Pooh lovers and the Pooh-adjacent.
Also at Redeemed Reader:
- Reviews: Two books about the real-life Winnie.
- Reviews: Two new chapter-book series we reviewed recently are Beti and the Little Round House and Stella & Marigold.
- Reflection: An edition of Pooh stories was commissioned by Milne’s estate in 2009. Gladys Hunt was not a fan.
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