Title: Winnie-the-Pooh

Published: 1926

Author: A. A. Milne, Illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard

Challenge status: Included on a recent article about classic children’s books that have been banned in America. Milne’s book is also #22 on the the Radcliffe Publishing Course Top 100 Novels of the 20th Century. Book #25 on Summer of Banned Books ’13.

Why: I can’t believe I’m writing this, so I’m not going to comment just give you links.

• Banned in a UK school (~2003) because it might offend Muslims (something about Piglet?). This rationale has also come up in US, Russia, & Turkey. (Didn’t see any record of actually offended Muslims on this topic.)
• Talking animals an insult to God (parental group in Kansas, ~2006)
• Labeled “pro-Nazi” and politically subversive in Russia (~2009) because an image of Pooh wearing a swastika was found among the belongings of a political extremist

First line: “Here is Edward Bear, coming downstairs now, bump, bump, bump, on the back of this head, behind Christopher Robin.”

Synopsis:

I’m sorry people, I’m still stuck on this whole “talking animals an insult to God” thing. Thinking about children’s lit, songs, movies, television – and toys –  what’s left?

Winnie-the-Pooh is a CHARMING story about Edward Bear (aka Winnie the Pooh, aka Pooh) who is both a bear of quite a lot of brains and very little brains, as well as much loved by his very good friend Christopher Robin. He has adventures in the 100 acre woods with his friends Piglet, Rabbit, Owl, Kanga & Roo, and the morose mule Eeyore.

Pooh is addicted to honey which leads to high-stakes plot twists. For example, leads Pooh to attempt an aerial takeover (by balloon) of a bee-hive. Also he ends up stuck in a honey jar in a Heffalump trap. On the other hand, empty honey jars end up saving the day sometimes, such as Eeyore’s birthday present and also the escape pod during a local flood.