I’ve always loved the idea of authors who discover children’s writing after the birth of their own children. Before the birth of his son, Christopher,
A A Milne was a playwright of some 18 plays and author of three novels, including a murder mystery. But he is best known of course for his two Winnie-the-Pooh books.
A A Milne’s first book for children was his book of poems, When We Were Young. Later, after the two Pooh books, he published a second book of poetry, Now We Are Six. I remember poems from both books, but I’m particularly fond of a volume of Now We Are Six, which belonged to my mum.
The book is a 1956 reprinting, and is well-worn and loved. It has pen and ink illustrations by E H Shephard, which have been hand-coloured – by littlies, probably my mum and/or her sisters…
I have many favourite poems in this book… I always related particularly to ‘Binker’ – partly because Bink was the nickname that my mum and dad called me when I was little. And also because it made having an imaginary friend seem acceptable and appealing.
Binker – what I call him – is a secret of my own,
And Binker is the reason why I never feel alone.
Playing in the nursery, sitting on the stair,
Whatever I am busy at, Binker will be there…
As an adult, I adore the E H Shephard illustrations in this book – the details capture childhood movements and faces so perfectly – and just look at Mum’s (or maybe Nanny’s) stunning outfit in the illo for Binker!
When my friend Carolyn got married, she asked me to do one of the readings for the ceremony, on behalf of me and a friend of ours, Nicci (who was living overseas at the time). We chose ‘Us Two’ from Now We Are Six. It will always be special to me for this association too.
Wherever I am, there’s always Pooh,
There’s always Pooh and Me.
Whatever I do, he wants to do,
“Where are you going to-day?” says Pooh:
“Well, that’s very odd ‘cos I was too.
Let’s go together,” says Pooh, says he.
“Let’s go together,” says Pooh…
A A Milne apparently resented somewhat the overwhelming success of his children’s books (which was to the detriment of his later writing in other genres). But his ability to get into the minds of children, and to write in a way that both children and adults could relate to, was an amazing gift.
||Lou’s previous When We Were Little post on Winnie-the-Pooh||
I love these books. I grew up reading ‘When We Were Very Young’ and ‘Now We Are Six’. Recently my 2yo nephew was given these for his birthday and it was great to revisit them again. I hope that he loves them as much as I did.