That other essential element required to male a child's book "classic" - that adults must enjoy reading it themselves - is also present; it was lovely to hear again the old favourites and to see the pleasure I felt at six reflected in the face of my own offspring. This book is a must for any family's bookshelf, as is its 'prequel' "When We Were Very Young". Make sure you but the hardback though, by the time my two younger brothers had passed six years, my own paperback had disintegrated with overuse.


A must for any family bookcase   September 21, 2005
 6 out of 6 found this review helpful

I have just brought Milne's exquisite book for my daughter's sixth birthday as my father did for me and his father for him and she has already fallen in love with King John, the Good and Bad Bears and Shepherd's ever delightful illustrations and enjoys reading the classic poems to her array of bedtime toys as much as hearing them herself. These are not just cutesie rhymes for those too young to have learnt discernment, Milne is a genius when it comes to choice of topic - as appealing to children now as it was four generations ago - and of using the essential 3R's of any classic for young children: repetition, rhythm and rhyme.

That other essential element required to male a child's book "classic" - that adults must enjoy reading it themselves - is also present; it was lovely to hear again the old favourites and to see the pleasure I felt at six reflected in the face of my own offspring. This book is a must for any family's bookshelf, as is its 'prequel' "When We Were Very Young". Make sure you but the hardback though, by the time my two younger brothers had passed six years, my own paperback had disintegrated with overuse.


A Feel-Good Book for adults and Kids alike   July 31, 2005
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I love this book (and "When we were very Young") and so do my children. My two-year-old recites some of the poems with me and loves the sounds of the words (especially the mouse with the "woffelly nose"!) and on our latest trip to the zoo my four-year-old insisted she saw a "Wallaboo"! You may pick them up because Winnie-the-Pooh is featured and find them to be unputdownable because of the many other characters. These books are a must on the bookshelves of anyone who enjoys childrens poetry and are almost sure to give any child a lasting love of words!


Wonderful Memories for Your Children   September 27, 2003
 4 out of 4 found this review helpful

I am now 51 years old and still remember many of these wonderful children's poems, despite not having read these book now for almost 20 years.

If you want your children to have the sort of memories they will cherish and the sort of children's poems that they will learn by heart and repeat over to their children and their grandchildren, then this book and its sister volume "When We Were Very Young" are a must.

Highly recommended!


A classic collection of children's poetry.   January 22, 2002
 10 out of 11 found this review helpful

I first received this book when I turned 6. I bought it again for my daughter's 6th birthday this year. The poetry is timeless and talks about the simple concerns of the young. I believe it is the best introduction to poetry for young children.