Reviews

When We Were Very Young by A.A. Milne

thelibraryskeeper's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

2.0

My least favorite so far. I have no idea why a random book of poems is in the Pooh Collection.

keydevera's review against another edition

funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

book_concierge's review

5.0

Illustrated by Ernest H Shepard

This was Milne’s first book for children, originally published in 1924. He was inspired by his young son, Christopher Robin, and the verses are sometimes silly, sometimes touching, and always enjoyable. Shepard’s illustrations are a perfect accompaniment, chronicling Christopher’s interactions with shopkeepers, nanny, horses, rabbits, and one particularly stout bear.

I was particularly delighted to read this poem on a snowy March day …
DAFFODOWNDILLY
She wore her yellow sun-bonnet,
She wore her greenest gown;
She turned to the south wind
And curtsied up and down.
She turned to the sunlight
And shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbor:
“Winter is dead.”

I can only hope … but at least this little poem put some sunshine in my heart.

P.S. Somehow Goodreads has this work listed as “Winnie the Pooh series # 3” … yet it was the first published work, and Pooh isn’t mentioned at all – at least not by name.

myb1023's review

funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

emziekath's review

funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

taylormorgantm's review against another edition

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

breakfastgrey's review

4.0

Some of these poems are absolutely excellent. Others are exceptionally dated. I definitely think I liked them more than my little one. I think she was more than ready to go back to Jack Prelutsky by the end. There's history here for me, though. I still have my copy that my great grandmother bought me and I've already read this copy to my daughter once before when she was a newborn, so I'm attached.

biw's review

5.0

ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT! INSPIRED ME SO MUCH I LOVED THIS BOOK

_ash0_'s review

3.0

I think I might have enjoyed it more had I read it as a kid. I read the poems to my son who liked a few of them and was indifferent towards the rest of them. Will try reading to him once he is little older to see if he likes them.

peterp3's review against another edition

5.0

Brings back happy memories of these being read to me by my father, more than 50 years ago! Enjoyable poems, superb illustrations by EH Shepard.
‘The King’s Breakfast’ is one of my all-time favourite poems. “I do like a little bit of butter to my bread.”