Winnie-the-Pooh at 100: A Bear, a Little Honey and a Lifetime of Stories
A hundred years of Winnie-the-Pooh. That's a lot of honey, a lot of small adventures, and an awful lot of readers who have found a little comfort in the Hundred Acre Wood.
In 2026, we're celebrating the centenary of A. A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh, first published in 1926. And here at Perkology Books, we think the best way to mark a literary birthday is fairly simple: find a lovely book, settle somewhere comfortable, and give an old friend another visit.
Whether you're introducing Pooh to a younger reader, returning to Milne's stories yourself, or looking for a thoughtful gift, we've picked out five books currently on our shelves. There's room here for classic storytelling, childhood poetry and a little cosy colouring, too.
Why we're still returning to the Hundred Acre Wood
Pooh's world makes room for small things. A walk becomes an adventure. A friend coming to visit is an occasion. A little uncertainty doesn't stop everyone muddling through together. That gentle pace is part of the pleasure, especially when the world outside the book feels rather less gentle.
Milne's stories and E. H. Shepard's illustrations belong together in the imaginations of generations of readers. You don't need to be a child to enjoy their humour, or to recognise the value of a friendship in which nobody has to be quite perfect.
The landscape behind those adventures is real, too. Ashdown Forest's official website introduces the East Sussex landscape that inspired Pooh's woodland home. It's a lovely place to begin if the centenary has you thinking about a literary day out as well as a new read.
Five Pooh books to discover at Perkology
Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne
If you're wondering where to start, start with Milne. This Farshore paperback edition is our pick for readers who want to return to the original stories, or share them with someone discovering Pooh for the first time. Sometimes the best birthday present is another reading of the book that started it all.
Condition: Used Very Good. Paperback, 160 pages. Shop Winnie-the-Pooh, £9.70.
Now We Are Six by A. A. Milne
For anyone who loves the playful side of Milne's writing, this poetry collection is a delightful companion. Its rhythms and childhood observations invite reading aloud, making it a lovely choice for a shared bedtime moment or a nostalgic browse. It's a companion to the Pooh stories, rather than the book whose centenary we're marking.
Condition: Used Very Good. Hardback, 112 pages. Shop Now We Are Six, £7.75.
Once There Was a Bear by Jane Riordan
Already know the original stories? This illustrated prequel offers another way into Pooh's world. Jane Riordan's stories are inspired by Milne and Shepard, and our copy is the collectable Classics 100th Anniversary edition. A particularly fitting find for the centenary, and a good choice for someone who enjoys discovering more adventures alongside familiar favourites.
Condition: Used Very Good, with minor shelf wear to edges and corners. Hardback, 128 pages. Shop Once There Was a Bear, £14.55.
Winnie-the-Pooh Pocket Library
Little books for little moments. This Disney pocket library is an option for younger Pooh fans, with a compact format that makes it an appealing small gift. If you're choosing for a child who's more familiar with the Disney characters than the original stories, this could be a friendly place to begin.
Condition: Used Like New. Shop the Winnie-the-Pooh Pocket Library, £6.39.
Disney Winnie the Pooh: A Cute and Cosy Colouring Book
Not every literary celebration needs to involve reading from beginning to end. This colouring book offers a quieter, hands-on way to spend time with Pooh's world. Put the kettle on, find your colouring pencils, and enjoy an afternoon with no particular need to hurry.
Our copy is Used Very Good, with clean, unmarked pages and minor signs of wear. Paperback, 88 pages. Shop the Cute and Cosy Colouring Book, £7.75.
A birthday worth slowing down for
You could mark Pooh's hundred years with a woodland walk, a few poems read aloud, or a chapter shared across generations. There's no need for a grand plan. A good story and a little time together will do nicely.
If you'd like to explore the real landscape behind the stories, the Conservators of Ashdown Forest provide information about the Forest, visiting and protecting this special place.
And if your celebration begins with a book, follow the links above to find your favourite on our shelves. These are used copies, so check the individual listing for condition details before choosing. Prices and availability were checked on 15 October 2026 and may change as copies sell.
Which Pooh book would you pass on to the next generation?
