'The best books, reviewed with insight and charm, but without compromise.'
- author Jackie French

Friday, 6 September 2019

Review: Winnie-the-Pooh and the day of Important Letters

Novelty books that contain envelope flaps with letters inside them, are as exciting as receiving a letter in your own mail box.

Inside Winnie-the-Pooh and the day of Important Letters you will discover six letters, a map and a special event hat. It is a tale of mystery and intrigue. Who has sent these letters to our friends, from the Hundred Acre Wood, and why?


The first of these important letters are addressed to Winnie-the-Pooh and Piglet. It asks that they '...please visit Christopher Robin at once...' What will happen when they get to Christopher Robin's house? The mystery grows.

Unsure what the letter means, Pooh and Piglet take their letter and map to ask Kanga and Roo. The kangaroos have received a similar letter that also asks them bring Tigger along to Christopher Robin's place.

The mystery deepens as we discover that Rabbit and Owl have received very important letters too. Mmmm, Owl's letter mentions something about a special event. I wonder what the special event might celebrate?

Even, gloomy Eeyore finds a letter from the mysterious friend. This letter tells Eeyore 'no ambling, no wandering, no strolling...come at once!' to Christopher Robin's.

Once they have all arrived at Christopher Robin's, they discover who wrote the letters and that there is one more envelope to open. Its contents will reveal the very special event. Ooooh it will be such a delightful surprise, that even Eeyore will smile.

This is a lovely little adventure based on the Winnie-the-Pooh stories by AA Milne and EH Shepard. It accurately shows the characteristics of our favourite forest friends. The misspelled words on the envelopes and letters gives readers a clue whom the friend might really be.

It is pleasing to see that the illustrations are of Shepard's style, they are simple line drawings with soft watercolour tones, rather than a more modern style of drawing.

If you are interested in finding out more about where the Winnie-the-Pooh story was born, then read KBR's Sarah Steed's article,  Bookish Places: Winnie-the-Pooh Country.

Or read more Winnie-the-Pooh stories reviewed by Kids' Book Review; Winnie-the-Pooh buggy books, Winnie-the-Pooh (and friends) Hide and Peek and Finding Winnie.

Title: Winnie-the-Pooh and the day of Important Letters
Publisher: Hardy Grant Egmont, $19.99
Publication Date:  1 January 2019
Format: Hard Cover
ISBN: 9781760503178
For ages: 2+
Type: Picture Book