Winnie-the-Pooh turns 100 this year. That means, while the lovable yellow bear might feel like your childhood, he’s also the childhood of so many generations of dreamers who weren’t afraid to make their world bigger with pure imagination. These are the dreamers who will be obsessing over the many (many) Winnie-the-Pooh collabs from Loungefly to Old Navy. We definitely hope to see Hundred Acre Wood-core take over this year. But mostly, we’re obsessing over Pooh himself, as author A.A. Milne and illustrator Ernest H. Shepard imagined him.
To honor one of the most classic children’s stories of all time, Aladdin Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, has released a perfectly fuzzy anniversary edition of the two prose books A. A. Milne wrote about Pooh. Anna Parsons is the editor behind Winnie-the-Pooh: 100th Anniversary Edition, and like many of us, she grew up with Pooh at her side. “I was excited for the chance to work with a story that I grew up with!” she said. We talked to Anna to find out how the book came together and how Aladdin created “an interior and cover design that both honors the book’s beginnings and gives it a new look.”
At 100 years old, our favorite bear is as full of life as ever. From playing Pooh Sticks to making friends, A. A. Milne’s stories are a reminder that no matter how old you are, you can be surprised by small adventures. “The adventures are simple, heartwarming, and character-driven. That’s part of what people love about them,” Anna said. “The characters in the Hundred Acre Wood can certainly find themselves in tricky situations. But there are no grand villains or heroes, and no epic quests. They’re stories about friendship, exploration, and imagination. They’re about imperfect characters unafraid to be themselves who see the wonder and adventure in the everyday world around them.”
We can’t help but admire how much Pooh and friends embrace wonder. Pooh gets stuck in Rabbit’s house. Tigger bounces up a tree he can’t climb down. “Many of the problems the characters face are a result of their own mistakes,” Anna explained. “But when that happens to Pooh, he doesn’t get angry. It doesn’t make him afraid to try new things. He accepts the situation for what it is and explores creative solutions.” Pooh, like most stuffed toys or woodland creatures, doesn’t know a lot. This makes the 100-Acre Wood that much more worth exploring. “And when he doesn’t know something, he seeks to learn more. I think we could all benefit from adopting his curiosity about the unknown and his willingness to take risks and learn from mistakes.”
In Pooh’s stories, readers will always find a group of friends who find (or invent) challenges that push their creativity, skills, and intelligence. Whether a tree blows over in the Hundred Acre Wood or Pooh is trying to write the perfect poem to commemorate a heroic feat, there’s joy and whimsy peeking through every page. “Imagination brings creativity, wonder, joy, and hope to everyday life. For kids and adults!” Anna said about how Pooh embodies imagination. “There’s a social media trend of romanticizing your daily activities that I find makes it easier to get through everyday tasks, plus just makes life more fun. Imagination gives us a picture of what life could be, and sometimes it’s the first step in making changes to achieve that vision.”
Winnie-the-Pooh: 100th Anniversary Edition is a soft reminder to enjoy idle times. With a simple image that celebrates Pooh’s character (including his love of “hunny”) and a yellow flocked cover that “just felt right,” the celebratory edition is perfect to read slowly and share with others. It takes us from Pooh receiving his name to the introduction of Tigger to the final tale, Anna’s “bittersweet” favorite, where Christopher Robin grows up and has to say goodbye.
As we celebrate Pooh’s 100th year and begin our own relationship with 2026, it’s time to reflect on how we want to enjoy the moments ahead. Honoring Pooh’s legacy will always be about embodying the lesson in every story: each day is an adventure we should cherish. Anna put it best. “Pooh is a character who is able to enjoy the small things and the idle times. He creates space for contemplation and lives in the moment. And through imagination and friendship, those small moments become special ones.”
Winnie-the-Pooh: 100th Anniversary Edition is available now from your favorite booksellers.
