"As Fat As I" (Winnie-the-Pooh: When We Were Very Young - A.A. Milne)

Member Name: newby2

Product:	Winnie-the-Pooh: When We Were Very Young - A.A. Milne
Date:	19/04/09 (148 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: memorable, classic

Disadvantages: none

Winnie The Pooh - When We Were Very Young - A.A Milne.....


A.A Milne is a classic writer of children's books and this is one book that has stuck with me since childhood, literally. I have managed to keep hold of this book since it was bought for me when I was 6 (and it has my name, address and age written in the front - how cute). Luckily I am not that old so the book is still in a nice condition and you would think I bought it yesterday. I did however get plenty of reading from it when I was smaller and now I have Jack to share it with it is getting even more use.

When We Were Very Young is not so much as a story book but more a poetry book perfect for reading to young children. It does have pictures in the book such as the first original Winnie The Pooh books drawn by E.H Sheppard and Christopher Robin does appear in some of the poems. The poems or rhymes are certainly not modern but far more classic in their relation to the world. The fact that they are still so simple however means that they are both a joy to read and to listen to.

Jack loves it when I read to him from this book and it often sends him to sleep with the rhythmic poems. His favourite one, which also happen to be mine too, is "Teddy Bear" and the picture looks just like the classic Winne the Pooh (I would think the whole poem is about him too). It starts;

"A bear, however hard he tries,
Grows tubby without exercise.
Out Teddy Bear is short and fat,
Which is not to be wondered at;
He gets what exercise he can
By falling off the ottoman,
But generally seems to lack
The energy to clamber back."

It basically is about Me Edward Bear hating being so terribly fat but in the end he realises that he should love who he is! Classic tale of loving who you are but brought across so well in this enjoyable rhyme. Most of the verses I find enjoyable and they seem to fit seamlessly together but I would have to say that there is one verse that I find particularly funny;

"For many weeks he pressed in vain
His nose against the window-pane
And envied those who walked about
Reducing their unwanted stout.
None of the people he could see
"Is quite" (he said) " as fat as me!"
Then, with a still more moving sigh,
"I mean"(he said) "as fat as I!"


The book itself is filled with rhymes such as this and the whole book is wonderful. It is very much classic but witty. There is a 120 pages filled with 44 different rhymes ranging from a few pages long to a few verses. There is at least one drawing to go with each poem and the pictures, although old fashioned, are rather endearing and very appropriate.

I dare say that Jack when he gets a little bit older will think this not cool enough for him but I hope by reading it to him now he will have the same fond memories that I have about it. It is a timeless book in my opinion and one that I hope to keep in good enough condition so that perhaps I could pass it down to any grandchildren I may have in the future.

All in all I would say this is a beautiful book. It has some wonderful soft poetry and some lovely funny rhymes perfect for small children (or big adults!). The drawings are totally suited to the content of the book and although the RRP is £11.99pence, you can pick it up at online stores from around £5 which I feel is a very good buy.

I think this book is well worth a 5 star rating as it has poems that I shall always remember, and that has got to be a good thing. Highly recommended,

I do hope this has been of some help to you.

Many thanks for taking the time to read.

Summary: a great poetry book