Winnie-the-Pooh: Once There Was a Bear: Tales of Before it All Began …

Winnie-the-Pooh: Authorized by the Trustees of The Pooh Properties and The Shepard Trust

by Jane Riordan

Enjoy the early adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh and friends in Winnie-the-Pooh Once There Was a Bear (the Official Prequel)
Beautiful new paperback edition of Winnie-the-Pooh Once There Was a Bear.

We all have a special place in our hearts for the adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh told by A.A.Milne in Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner. Highly talented author Jane Riordan has written a wonderful collection of stories in the style of A.A.Milne that take us back to where it all began, when Winnie-the-Pooh was first purchased for Christopher Robin in Harrods.

Jane Riordan has a strong pedigree in writing in the style of A.A.Milne, having also created Winnie-the-Pooh Meets the Queen and the re-issue edition Winnie-the-Pooh Goes to London.

The stories are decorated with beautiful illustrations by Mark Burgess in the style of E.H.Shepard. Mark is uniquely suited to this having also illustrated The Return to the Hundred Acre Wood and The Best Bear in All the World.

The paperback edition of this timeless story collection is a real tribute to the world’s most famous bear and the perfect opportunity for everyone to find out how these favourite friends become the larger than life characters we all love.

Do you own all the classic Pooh titles?

Winnie-the-Pooh
The House at Pooh Corner
When We Were Very Young
Now We Are Six
Return to the Hundred Acre Wood
The Best Bear in All the World
Once There Was a Bear

The nation’s favourite teddy bear has been delighting generations of children for over 95 years. Milne’s classic children’s stories – featuring Piglet, Eeyore, Christopher Robin and, of course, Pooh himself – are gently humorous while teaching lessons about friendship and kindness.

Pooh ranks alongside other beloved character such as Paddington Bear, and Peter Rabbit as an essential part of our literary heritage. Whether you’re 5 or 55, Pooh is the bear for all ages.

Genres: Childrens, Middle Grade, Fiction, Classics, Animals, Audiobook, Fantasy

128 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2021

Reviews

[Nikola · Rating 5 out of 5]

To jest tak urocze! Zachowane w stylu klasycznych opowiadań. Przepiękne ilustracje.
4,5/5

[Katie Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in one day I’ve always loved Winnie the Pooh from a young age an my friend on insta did a story of this book and I couldn’t believe it I’ve never seen it advertised or anything so brought it from Amazon for £10.95 and has since gone up in price such a good book and was beautifully illustrated 🥰🥰📚📚

[Martyna Antonina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Przeuroczy zbiór początków, zachowany w specyfice stylu Milne'a. Pełen ciepła, przytulności i szczypty melancholii.

[Деница Райкова]

Джейн Риърдън - "Имало едно мече", изд. "Сиела" 2021, прев. Мария Донева

Тази година се навършват 95 години от "раждането" на може би най-известното мече в света.
Едва ли са много хората, които поне да не са чували за Мечо Пух. Със сигурност тези, които са чели историята му, са милиони. За мен това е и винаги ще си остане една от най-хубавите /не/детски истории. Имам и лична причина толкова да обичам Мечето с Много Малко Ум. Но сега не става дума за това. А за тази чудесна книга.
"Имало едно мече" , с подзаглавие "Истории от Преди началото" разказва това, което сигурно много от нас са се чудили - откъде са се взели всички герои в "Мечо Пух". Защо Пух се казва именно Пух. Какво е станало, преди да се появи Пух? А как се появява Йори? Ами Прасчо? И всички останали? Отговорите на тези въпроси са тук, в тази прелестна, но за съжаление твърде кратка книга. Тук се запознаваме /отново/ поотделно с всички герои от "Мечо Пух". И приключенията, които им се случват, са също толкова забавни, колкото и в оригиналната книга.
Когато се пише продължение или, както е в случая, предистория, на толкова прочута книга, винаги има рискове - стилът на новия автор да се различава твърде много от стила на оригинала, новият автор да се изкуши да придаде на познатите герои нови, нетипични за тях черти, да ги вкара в твърде необичайни за тях приключения или просто ситуации, или просто да не съумее да напише достатъчно увлекателна история. И, разбира се, да приеме, че постоянно ще бъде сравняван с оригинала.
При тази книга всички тези опасения се оказаха напразни.
Защото Джейн Риърдън се е справила прекрасно. През цялото време имах чувството, че чета книга от самия А. А. Милн. Стилът и звученето на написаното от Джейн Риърдън са толкова близки до тези на Милн, че в един момент дори се зачудих дали това не са всъщност части от оригиналната книга, останали непубликувани по някаква причина.
Трудно ми е да кажа коя от историите ми стана любима. Но може би все пак втората глава, която описва купуването на мечето. Признавам си, че макар да знаех какво ще стане, в един момент се зплаших, че мечето ще попадне в други ръце. Разбира се, това не стана.
Това не е просто книга за едно мече. Това е история за приятелство, подкрепа и порастване. История, за която никой не е твърде голям. А след като я прочетох, със сигурност мога да кажа, че това не е просто "някаква предистория". А достойно допълнение към историята, която вече познаваме. И искрено се надявам да стане също толкова известна и да постигне същото дълголетие. Защото напълно го заслужава.
И накрая, но не и по важност. Две неща допринасят изключително много българското издание да е толкова прекрасно - чудесните илюстрации на Марк Бърджес и великолепният превод на Мария Донева. Книгата е истинска наслада.
Направете си този подарък.

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

The secret origin of Winnie the Pooh! A chapter a day keeps the doldrums away.

Chapter One. in which we go back to the beginnings

Before the flashbacks can begin, Tigger wants to make sure he's the star of at least one story. And he does a remarkable job of it.

Chapter Two. in which a bear is bought

Before he came to Christopher Robin's home, Pooh was on a shelf at London's Harrods department store, and he caught the eye of a annoying spoiled young girl gathering a tremendous pile of loot during her shopping trip. Obviously this vignette is going to go nowhere.

Chapter Three. in which some friends arrive

Eeyore and Piglet's dispositions are explained by the manner in which they were delivered to Christopher Robin's house, one in a soggy and abused package and the other squeezed through a tiny mail slot.

Chapter Four. in which Winnie meets another and Eeyore doesn't

Pooh, Piglet, and Eeyore accompany Christopher Robin to the London Zoo where Eeyore gets lost and Pooh meets a very special bear.

Chapter Five. in which a mountain is moved

Pooh, Piglet, and Eeyore manage to have a small adventure in Christopher Robin's bedroom when they jump to scary assumptions about mysterious noises and shapes in the morning gloom.

Chapter Six. in which we all feel very young

A visit to London's Natural History Museum is a bit of a snooze even with all the dinosaur skeletons. Thank goodness for Eeyore's fixation on corners saving the day.

Chapter Seven. in which it rains a great deal

Eeyore is the only saving grace in this chapter as a rainy day keeps everyone inside playing in a blanket den. A mouse name Flo appears, but contributes little and takes a lot.

Chapter Eight. in which some hiding places are better than others

Rabbit and his friends and relations appear for the first time as Christopher Robin's family move from London to a place next to the Hundred-Acre Wood. Eeyore again steals the show as he is first to hide in a game of hide-and-seek and picks an unusual spot. I wish more detail had been given about the move and how the little houses in the wood came to be.

Chapter Nine. in which several holes are dug

Christopher Robin gets Pooh and his friends playing pirates and looking for precious items to bury in their treasure chest.

Chapter Ten. in which we all live happily ever after. The end.

On a winter day, Rabbit tries to warn everyone about the dangers of ice, so they all gather on a frozen stream to listen. Soon enough Christopher Robin's boot and Piglet are both in need of rescue. A bit too reminiscent of Milne's flood, but still nice enough.

FOR REFERENCE:

Contents: Before the Before (An Introduction) -- Acknowledgments -- Chapter One. in which we go back to the beginnings -- Chapter Two. in which a bear is bought -- Chapter Three. in which some friends arrive -- Chapter Four. in which Winnie meets another and Eeyore doesn't -- Chapter Five. in which a mountain is moved -- Chapter Six. in which we all feel very young -- Chapter Seven. in which it rains a great deal -- Chapter Eight. in which some hiding places are better than others -- Chapter Nine. in which several holes are dug -- Chapter Ten. in which we all live happily ever after. The end.

(My Pooh Project: I love Winnie the Pooh, and so does my wife. Having a daughter gave us a chance to indoctrinate her into the cult by buying and reading her every Pooh book we came across. How many is that? I’m going to count them this year by reading and reviewing one every day and seeing which month I finally run out. Track my progress here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list... )

[Eline Aerden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a trip down memory lane and going back to my childhood!
I have always loved Winnie the Pooh! Reading about how it al began, was everything I needed.
It was a joy and pleasure reading these little stories. I loved the drawings inside the book and all their original voices in my head while reading made it even more perfect!!

[Demi Stein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samenvatting:
Winnie de Poeh kennen we nu al een hele poos. Ter ere van het 95 jarige jubileum is er daarom een prequel geschreven. Al jaren genieten we van Poeh en zijn vrienden in het Honderd Bunderbos, maar hoe zijn zij samen gekomen?

Er was eens een beer is een verhalenbundel waarbij je het avontuur ziet tussen de ontmoetingen van Poeh en de andere hartverwarmende personages.

--

Wie is er nou niet opgegroeid met Winnie de Poeh? Het is de meest bekende beer van de wereld, maar toch wisten we nog niet hoe Poeh zijn vrienden heeft ontmoet.
Er was eens een beer wordt verteld door Christoffer Robin. Het bevat tien korte verhaaltjes waarbij er teruggeblikt wordt op de voortijd. Naar het allereerste begin, waar Poeh in Londen in een warenhuis zat te wachten op zijn nieuwe eigenaar.
Het verhaal is ideaal om voor te lezen aangezien het verdeeld is in tien korte hoofdstukken. Het verhaal wordt heel leuk opgebouwd doordat je echt begint bij het allereerste begin. Vanuit daar komt er steeds een personage bij die op zijn eigen manier in het leven kwam van Poeh. Mijn favoriet is de ontmoeting van Iejoor, aangezien hierbij ook een klein stukje uitleg is over waarom Iejoor zo neerslachtig is.
De schrijfstijl van Jane Riordan voelt als thuiskomen. Het doet absoluut niet onder aan het originele Winnie de Poeh verhaal. Het verhaal van Poeh is en blijft een wonder. In het verhaal zijn ook korte liedjes verwerkt, want Poeh bedenkt voor verschillende situaties korte liedjes, deze geven het verhaal een warm en vrolijk gevoel. Riordan heeft al eens eerder een verhaal geschreven over Poeh.
Naast dat het verhaal als thuiskomen voelt, wordt het ondersteund met kleur illustraties gemaakt door Mark Burgess. De illustraties zijn prachtig en geven het boek extra sfeer. Een aantal situaties worden door middel van de illustraties verduidelijkt, zoals wanneer iedereen in het Honderd Bunderbos verstoppertje aan het spelen zijn. De ruimte waar ze zich willen verstoppen is te klein, wat door de illustratie duidelijk wordt gemaakt.
Het verhaal, de illustraties en de korte liedjes worden goed op elkaar afgestemd. Het is hierdoor een feestje om het boek (voor te) lezen en er doorheen te bladeren. Dit boek is zeker een aanrader voor iedereen die al fan was van Poeh, maar ook voor iedereen die graag het verhaal van Poeh in leven wilt houden.

[Ria]

'Voortijd,' zei Uil ernstig, 'is een feit, niet te verwarren met Begintijd of Destijds. Dat is te zeggen, het is een Werkelijke Waarheid. Vraag eens na hoe jouw voortijd was, Christoffer Robin, dan kun je het ons vertellen.'

Winnie de Poeh kent bijna iedereen. Verhalen met het jongetje Christoffer Robin, Knorretje, Teigetje, Iejoor en andere dieren die zich afspelen in het Honderd-Bunders-Bos. Maar hoe kwamen ze daar terecht? Hoe hebben ze elkaar leren kennen? Wat was hun 'voortijd'? Uil legt dit middels het citaat hierboven uit.

Na het voorwoord en het eerste hoofdstuk begint het tweede met 'Er zat een beer...'. Een beer in de etalage van Harrods in Londen. Een reis voor Poeh begint. Zittend in de vensterbank ziet hij dat er een nat postpakketje bij het huis in Mallord Street wordt afgeleverd, een glimp van een hoef. De lezer maakt kennis met Iejoor die door de kokkin als Hoefdweil wordt gebruikt. Knorretje ploft intussen ook op de mat.

Samen beleven ze grote en kleine avonturen, huttenbouwen en verstoppertje spelen of bijv. naar de dierentuin. Genieten is de uitstap naar het Natuurhistorisch Museum waarin een knobbelige ladder wordt beklommen.
Heerlijk logische uitspraken kom je volop tegen: 'Je wordt steeds kleiner, en dat betekent meestal dat je gaat en niet dat je komt.' of 'Over twee dagen is morgen ook weg.'

De laatste verhalen die alle geïnspireerd zijn op die van A.A. Milne spelen zich af in het bos. Knorretje herinnert zich dan nog de 'rijen rode lawaaimonsters' uit de stad, ze waren inmiddels Londen een beetje aan het vergeten. Helemaal als op een ochtend het woud met 'een wit laagje knisperend, krakend suikerstrooisel' is bedekt en er ook in ijzige kou volop buiten wordt gespeeld.

De mooie gekleurde tekeningen van Mark Burgess met daartussen allerlei versjes zijn rijkelijk verdeeld over de verhalen. Diverse gebeurtenissen en wijsheden worden met humor verhaald. Een aanrader om cadeau te geven, alleen al om het prachtige omslag en het schutblad.

Als er één boek is om gezellig voor te lezen is het dit boek over de voortijd van de immer graag honingetende beer! En zelf lezen!


De vertaling is van Annelies Jorna. De tekst is geïnspireerd op de verhalen van A.A. Milne en de tekeningen op de illustraties van E.H. Shepard.

[Ugnė Lukošienė · Rating 1 out of 5]

Iliustracijos labai gražios.
Bet pačios istorijos... net man nei lašo nebuvo suprantamos apie ką ir kas kaip. Maišalynė be logikos ir tiek...

[Dannii Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This utterly adorable collection of tales focus on the well known characters in scenarios before they entered Hundred Acre Wood. I adored the contents here for their subtle humour and distinct voice and personality of each character. This might be aimed towards children, but there is a cleverness here that is one of the reasons Winnie-the-Pooh and friends have been loved by generation upon generation. These stories were penned by a new hand but retained all the greatness of their creator.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You may also want to scatter a few crumbs over the page, because a book is generally best enjoyed with a little nibble of something (or so Pooh says)" (p.6).

As someone who loves Winnie-the-Pooh, even though I am long past my childhood, I loved visiting him and all of his friends all again, thanks to Riordan. She has done a great job, trying to channel Milne's voice, and his turns of phrase, to make it feel as though this could be from his own pen. Along with Burgess's illustrations, it all comes together to make a very 'genuine' Pooh book. I loved it, and am happy to include it in collection of his tales.

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Абсолютно вълшебна предистория на как Пух е станал Пух и откъде са дошли всички други обитатели на Стоакровата гора 💓

[Гери]

По принцип разни прелюдии и продължения никога не се получават, може би на мен единствено "Преди "Грийн Гейбълс" ми е харесала, а това е втората книжка, която си беше забавна с полъх от оригиналния Милн,
Трябваше да мие книжката за първи юни, но каквото и да искаше детското в мен, то сливиците в мен не се съгласиха.
Ще видим тежката дума на моето Бобче, понеже майка ѝ е голяма пухолюбка (много повече от мен).

[Dawid Wierdak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ale ogień!

[Marti · Rating 5 out of 5]

niesamowicie urocze

[Ivelina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Изключително сладка история, която да ти стопли душата.

[Luuka9999 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prequel do Kubusia Puchatka!!

[Beáta Pálfi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kedves előzménykötet arról, hogyan kerültek Róbert Gidához a Micimackóból ismert játékai, de semmi több. A rajzok hűségesen idézik fel Shepard eredeti rajzait.
Szép, igényes kötet, de sajnos, nem éri el az eredeti könyv színvonalát, és főleg nem Karinthy fordítását, pedig a fordító mindent megtett, úgy éreztem. Érdekességnek jó.

[Adam Stevenson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once There Was a Bear is an officially licensed prequel to the Winnie the Pooh stories produced for their 95th birthday. They tell the story of how Pooh was bought for Christopher Robin, as well as other future inhabitants of the 100 Acre Wood. The stories are partly based on real events in Christopher Robin’s life, as the original stories were - like Winnie the Pooh coming from Harrods, and Christopher Robin’s fondness of the bear Winniepeg shown at London Zoo.

The stories are told in a pastiche style of A.A Milne, with direct addresses to the reader and a fondness for wordplay, quirky asides and events. I particularly liked a description of little teddy bears with stiff arms who looked like they were in the dark and afraid to bump into the walls, and Pooh wondering where the bottom stairs of an escalator come from. The book is also full of pastiche illustrations of EH Shepherd’s own.

While the book was pleasant enough, they didn’t have the natural charm of the originals. If A.A Milne’s Pooh stories were rich, sweet honey, these were a little more synthetic. There’s something less lived in about them, it’s clear that the original stories were told to, and involved the reactions of, Christopher Robin but these don’t quite have that. Also, Pooh didn’t have a hum in each of the original stories but they do here, showing something of a rote quality to them. Pooh, Piglet and Eeyore are the main inhabitants of the 100 Acre Wood in the book and they are somehow less rounded, though it seems that Jane Riordan’s favourite is Eeyore, as he gets more to say in these stories than he originally did.

Ultimately, I didn’t really understand who the stories were for. I guess a child might enjoy them but won’t get the prequel/legacy element of the book. I suppose they were for people like me, who loved their visits to the 100 Acre Wood and wanted some more. As such, the book is a moderate success with some genuinely charming moments.

[Abigail McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always love spending time with the Hundred-Acre Wood gang, and this was no exception. The illustrations were also SO CUTE oh my goodness.

[Steventhesteve · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was lovely. My partner and I had this as a bedtime read, and have loved spreading it out over a while. We were dubious at first as we found another authorised addition to the series "Return to the hundred acre wood" a few years ago and found it jarring in too many places. However, in the hands of Jane Riordan we were treated to a loving and nostalgic revisit not too far from the original Milne.

Now I'm not suggesting that anyone is likely to capture the original charm and wit of Winnie the Pooh, but this wasn't just another bash at adventures in the forest. This was how it all began, with a small boy's favourite toys and teddies slowly turning up one by one in a London townhouse before the family moved to the country. I'd recommend this to anyone who has read the originals.

I should also mention the illustrations, which are very much in keeping with the original. They add a depth to the story and very much help it feel like Winnie the Pooh.

[Alys Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge Winnie the Pooh fan and have been since I was tiny. When I saw there was a 95th anniversary authorised prequel, I had to read it. Although not written by A A Milne, I have to admit, the writing is impeccable and pays a perfect homage to the well loved Pooh stories of old. Heartwarming and glorious.

[Katie Hazel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is quite obviously a children's book - at just over 100 pages. But as a big Disney fan, and someone who has had a Winnie teddy by her side for the past 21 years, I could not miss this prequel. This is so cute! The illustrations are adorable. This is something I will read again and again, and if one day I have kids, I'll read it to them. Such a lovely addition to the Winnie world!

[Fran · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another lackluster attempt to write new Pooh stories. It's not awful but not great either. The illustrations are rather lovely, at least, but it lacks the charm and the setting of the original stories.

[Jennifer Pierpont · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 9 year old daughter and I loved this prequel to the Winnie the Pooh stories. It was written very much in the style of Milne’s works, and we are fans.

Here are a couple of quotes that made me chuckle.

“He (Christopher Robin) knew that sometimes grown-ups made a story short by saying, “It’s very late now. You’re tired,” when of course all children know that it’s the grown-up who’s tired—not them.”

“Pooh, who after all the fast moving, was feeling a little eleven o’clockish, thought that Eeyore was most likely to be near the ice-cream shop.”

[Wojciech Szot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prequel „Kubusia Puchatka”? Proszę bardzo! Mogę czytać prequel, sequel i nowe części, dopóki jest to robione z szacunkiem dla oryginału i w dobrym przekładzie. „Był sobie miś” Jane Riordan w przekładzie Michała Rusinka spełnia wszystkie te warunki.

---

Kubuś narodził się w 1926 roku. Świat trochę się od tego czasu zmienił, co jest truizmem, ale jednak warto sobie uświadomić, że sympatyczne stworki z opowiadań brytyjskiego pisarza mają za sobą bardzo intensywny wiek. I choć wciąż pojawiają się nowi bohaterowie (i - na szczęście - bohaterki) dziecięcej wyobraźni, to lubiący miodek misiek wciąż jest na topie. Co nie znaczy, że nie potrzebuje liftingu. Ten, w wykonaniu Jane Riordan, jest niezwykle udany.

Autorce udaje się zbliżyć do stylu pisarskiego Milne'a - nie wszystkie zdania są tu proste i łatwe dla dzieciaków, nad niektórymi słowami będą się głowić, podobnie jak niekoniecznie całkowicie zrozumiały jest dizisiaj pierwowzór. Doskonałą robotę - jak zawsze - wykonał Michał Rusinek, który nie szczędzi dzieciom trudnych wyrazów. Zadaniem książki jest bowiem nie tylko bawić i zajmować czas, ale i uczyć, że język może być ładniejszy, zgrabniejszy, a stosowane w nim konstrukcje - niekoniecznie najprostsze.

---

Więcej: https://www.empik.com/empikultura/ksi...

[Lesebiene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tja, was soll ich sagen… es ist halt Winnie Pooh und der bekommt mich immer. Eine wirklich tolle Sammlung an Vorgängergeschichten, auch wenn sie nicht an das Original herankommen. Aber auch die Zeichnungen fand ich total schön und es war toll, die Crew nochmal ganz anders und doch bekannt kennenzulernen. 💛

[Justin (Backstage Revisited) · Rating 4 out of 5]

De verhalen van voordat de verhalen van Winnie de Poeh plaatsvonden; over de eerste ontmoetingen en vriendschappen. Het boek bevat veel leuke woordspelingen en humor en de mysteries worden op een leuke en creatieve manier ontdekt en opgelost. Een leuk voorleesboek bestaande uit een tiental korte verhalen.

[Sara Avanzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una coccola :) buffo e poetico

[Emilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 ⭐️
Opowiadania pełne ciepła i przytulności! 💓