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Winnie-the-Pooh: Once There Was a Bear

Tales of Before it All Began …
Brief Description
NEW stunning hardback edition of Jane Riordan’s prequel collection inspired by Milne’s classic stories, with Mark Burgess illustrations created in the style of E.H. Shepard's iconic art. You should find out about your Before, Christopher Robin, and then tell it to us all. Enjoy the early... Read More
Format: Hardback
$4500
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Releases 28th January 2026 (Approx. Date) Pre-order  "Winnie-the-Pooh: Once There Was a Bear" now to secure your copy from our first shipment

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Winnie-the-Pooh: Once There Was a Bear

NEW stunning hardback edition of Jane Riordan’s prequel collection inspired by Milne’s classic stories, with Mark Burgess illustrations created in the style of E.H.Shepard's iconic art.

`You should find out about your Before, Christopher Robin, and then tell it to us all.'

NEW collectable edition of illustrated Pooh prequel stories inspired by Milne and Shepard

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

NEW stunning hardback edition of Jane Riordan’s prequel collection inspired by Milne’s classic stories, with Mark Burgess illustrations created in the style of E.H. Shepard's iconic art.

You should find out about your Before, Christopher Robin, and then tell it to us all.

Enjoy the early adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh and friends in this stunning 100th anniversary range’s hardback edition.

This authorised prequel story collection takes the reader back to the younger Christopher Robin’s world, when Pooh Bear was bought from Harrods. It includes a furry tale in London Zoo, a tall tale at The Natural History Museum and a tiny tale of a nursery mouse.

We all have a place in our hearts for the adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh told by A.A. Milne in Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner. Highly talented author Jane Riordan has written a wonderful collection of stories in the style of A.A. Milne, that take us back to where it all began, when Winnie-the-Pooh was first purchased for Christopher Robin in Harrods.

Jane Riordan has a strong pedigree in writing in the style of A.A. Milne, having also created Winnie-the-Pooh Meets the King, Tales from the Forest, Winter in the Wood and Winnie-the-Pooh Easter Hunt.

The stories in this 100th Anniversary range’s hardback edition are decorated with beautiful illustrations by Mark Burgess in the style of E.H. Shepard. Mark is uniquely suited to this having also illustrated Return to the Hundred Acre Wood, The Best Bear in All the World, Tales from the Forest and Winter in the Wood.

It’s a real tribute to the world’s most famous bear and the perfect opportunity for everyone to find out how these favourite friends become the larger than life characters we all love.

Do you own all the classic Pooh titles?

  • Winnie-the-Pooh
  • The House at Pooh Corner
  • When We Were Very Young
  • Now We Are Six
  • Return to the Hundred Acre Wood
  • The Best Bear in All the World
  • Once There Was a Bear
  • Tales from the Forest
  • Winter in the Wood

The nation’s favourite teddy bear has been delighting generations of children for nearly 100 years. Milne’s classic children’s stories – featuring Piglet, Eeyore, Christopher Robin and, of course, Pooh himself – are gently humorous while teaching lessons about friendship and kindness.

Pooh ranks alongside other beloved characters such as Paddington Bear, and Peter Rabbit as an essential part of our literary heritage. Whether you’re 5 or 55, Pooh is the bear for all ages.

Series: Winnie-the-Pooh – Classics 100th Anniversary

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780008648206

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 09 October 2025

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Farshore

Illustration: (With jacket, ribbon bookmark and beautiful images created by Mark Burgess in the style of E.H.Shepard.)

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by Mark Burgess

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 11.0mm

Width: 146.0mm

Height: 216.0mm

Weight: 400g

Pages: 128

About the Author

Jane Riordan originally trained to be a primary school teacher but her love of children's books led to a career in publishing. Since then, she has edited and written countless books for children, most notably Winnie-the-Pooh Goes to London and the official Winnie-the-Pooh prequel, Once There Was a Bear. After leaving art school Mark Burgess designed greetings cards before starting to write and illustrate children's books. He has now written and illustrated over thirty books and designed more than five hundred greetings cards.

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