Winnie-the-Pooh and Friends

Actor: “Here is Edward Bear, coming downstairs now, bump, bump, bump, on the back of his head, behind Christopher Robin. It is, as far as he knows, the only way of coming downstairs, but sometimes he feels that there really is another way, if only he could stop bumping for a moment and think of it.”

Anna Deavere Smith: And so begin the adventures of Christopher Robin and Mr. Edward Bear—better known as Winnie-the-Pooh—in A.A. Milne’s classic 1926 children’s book. Pooh has brought joy to millions of children around the world. But for all his whimsy and wonder, Pooh was not conjured out of thin air. No, he was very real. And he’s sitting right here in this case, among his friends.

Christopher Robin Milne, son of English writer A.A. Milne, was given this stuffed bear on August 21, 1921—his first birthday. As Christopher’s toy collection grew, Winnie-the-Pooh was joined by a menagerie of stuffed animals.

Actor: Eeyore, Piglet, Tigger, Kanga, and Roo.

Anna Deavere Smith: In time, this happy band—along with Christopher Robin himself—became inspiration for A.A. Milne’s fanciful stories of friendship and discovery.

When Christopher Robin Milne was an old man, he agreed that his childhood friends would have a very good home here at The New York Public Library. Except, sadly, for Roo, who vanished one day many years ago in an apple orchard. Today, Pooh and his friends are on display as much as possible, for the enjoyment of children—and, no less important, the used-to-be-children—who love them.