When We Were Very Young: Classic Gift Edition (Winnie-the-Pooh)

When I was very young, my parents thoughtfully got the A.A. Milne collection, which consisted of the two Winnie-the-Pooh books and two somewhat related books of short poems – this and Now We Are Six. As with all fine children’s literature, they are so rich and magical that one can return to them as an adult and discover something new each time. The poems come in many forms and styles. Some are idyllic pictures; some are funny stories. All concern children, or characters from fairy tales or life with whom children are familiar. Even Winnie-the-Pooh, that silly old bear, appears! Each is a stand-alone gem, so a parent reading to a deserving child at bedtime (and showing them the illustrations. Mustn’t forget E.H. Shepard’s delightful pictures!) can select the ones their child might best respond to. Later, when the child reads on his or her own, the ones you skipped will be discovered. There is much treasure here. If you have not heard of this book or its companion, I highly recommend giving them a read. You may have heard some of the poems somewhere. The Limelighters did a rousing musical setting of “Disobedience”. And Arnold Schwartzenegger reads the opening stanza of “Spring Morning” to his kids in Kindergarten Cop. You and your child will laugh at the funny ones, you’ll get all sentimental at the ones that capture perfectly the perennial wonder of youth… and when you’re fixing breakfast the next morning and your child wants toast, you can ask, “Would you like a little butter for the royal slice of bread?” and you’ll both crack up, because you’ll know what THAT was all about!

Perfect!

“When We Were Very Young” is a series of delightful little verses that capture the spirit of childhood and written with the special combination humor, sweetness, silliness and pathos that characterizes all of Milne’s beloved classics. Obviously meant for very young children, adults who might be reading it to them will also love the little stories in verse and both will adore the line drawings that illustrate them. I saved the copy I’d had as a child and read it to both my children. This one is for my new granddaughter! If your kids love this one, be sure to give them “Now We Are Six” for their sixth birthdays. I remember feeling very grown up to graduate to the next volume!

It has been since I was a child that I read this collection of poems. I loved Winnie-the-Pooh and wanted to read this when the librarian told me that a few of the poems were about Christopher Robin and there was a fun one about a teddy bear. I took her advice and even as a young child of eight learned to adore more of A.A. Milne's talent. As an adult, I think I appreciate these nostalgic and whimsical pieces even more that take one back to the innocence of childhood. When a child has learned to be polite and is, but grows weary in the chore, when a child gives impressions of a visit to the zoo, or is regaled with tales from a favored aunt, or loses his pet mouse in a relations' house, or imagines an adventure of the imagination. I will definitely be returning to this slim volume of poetry when I need to see a simpler, brighter, dreamier world. Recommend for young and the young at heart alike.

This is an old one but classic with beautiful poems written by A.A. Milne, the author of Winnie the Pooh. This predates the Pooh years, but has a few poems of Winnie in it. My mother read it to me, the 1960 print version and now my daughters can read it to their daughters, the 2020+ version. Any book with this many printings must be good. No one is too young or too old to read this book. Even a baby should be read to and the words flow off the page when reading this

Bought this book because my grandfather used to read a lot to me as a kid and it brought back memories of my growing up.

it was a gift.

My favorite book growing up. I purchased it for my children when they were young, and now for my grandchildren. Short poems to remember for a lifetime!

Um clássico que fala por si próprio.

lustige Reime/Gedichte für junge Leser

Wow.... Very beautiful book. Very beautiful colour pictures...

Lovely Had all the poems I wanted

Pensavo di acquistare un CD invece ho ricevuto un'audiocassetta. PERFETTAMENTE INUTILE!