5 Things Local Librarians Like About A.A. Milne

A.A. Milne, most famous for his children's stories featuring a chubby bear called Pooh was born on this day in 1882.

Before penning his first collection of children's poems called When We Were Young, A.A Milne was a mathmetician, humor writer for a British magazine called Punch, and a soldier in the first World War.

Winnie-the-Pooh wasn't created until 1925, when Milne contributed a story based on a bedtime tale he had made up for his son, Christopher Robin Milne, about his adventures with a teddy bear.

It's been said that Milne didn't write the Pooh stories and poems for children but instead intended them for the child within us—with that spirit in mind, we asked local librarians and storytellers to share their favorite A.A. Milne moment, story, character or quote.

Happy Birthday Mr. Milne, this 5 Things is dedicated to you!

1. Six is an important age

Kathy Storfer, storyteller at the , said she's always been fond of the poem, And Now We are Six. "I just loved it as a kid and it became even more important after I had my kids," she said. "Six is an age where you really do fully emerge as a person."

2. Eeyore and Tigger are the yin and yang of the stories

Storfer said she was torn on choosing a favorite character but said she was drawn to Eeyore and Tigger. "Eeyore is so sad and forlorn and you just want to take care of him, but he can also be very wise and is very compassionate—and  Tigger is, well, Tigger! Who can be sad around Tigger? He's a wonderful thing."

3. Embrace your inner Pooh

Stephanie Hartwell-Mandella, children's librarian at the said she also enjoys Pooh and Eeyore. "Eeyore because of his pessimistic, fretting-over-everything nature, and Pooh because of his simplicity and ability to do "nothing" and just being able to "be." Pooh is in the moment, reacting on instinct and not over-thinking things to death. I hope to embrace my inner Pooh," she said.

4. Enjoy each day

Here's what Vicki Kriegeskotte, children's librarian at the , described as one of her favorite Pooh moments:

“What day is it?"

It's today," squeaked Piglet.
My favorite day," said Pooh.”
― A.A. Milne

5. It's nice to have a friend on a blustery day

Shodie Alcorn, children's librarian at the said Piglet has been her favorite character for a long time and her two favorite stories are Pooh Sticks ("we can all play Pooh Sticks when we are on certain bridges," she said) and Pooh and Piglet's Blustery Day, because "we all have blustery days when the wind blows and blows and it is very nice to have a good friend help us out every once in a while."

"Oh, then I think I shall wish everyone a happy 'Winds Day', and I shall begin with—my very dear friend...Piglet!"