release dates: January 21-27 3-1 (12) TM Mini Spy . Mini Spy is reading one of A.A. Milne’s books to her little sister for a bedtime story. See if you can find: • exclamation mark • Easter egg • lima bean • ruler • ladder • carrot • safety pin • lips • sailboat • pea pod • pencil • word MINI © 2012 Universal Uclick • letter E • letter A • letter F • heart from The Mini Page © 2012 Universal Uclick • toothbrush • kite • olive • saw Winnie-the-Pooh Creator Meet Author A.A. Milne Have you grown up hearing the A.A. Milne sits with his stories of Winnie-the-Pooh and son, Christopher Robin, and Christopher’s stuffed watching the movies? Many people toy bear, Winnie-the-Pooh. keep their love of Winnie-the-Pooh Christopher got the original and his friends for their entire lives. Winnie-the-Pooh toy bear The author of the original Winnie- when he was about 1 year the-Pooh books, A.A. Milne, was born old. Christopher’s family called 130 years ago. In celebration, The him by the nicknames Billy Mini Page takes a look at the author or Moon, because he called and his beloved stories. himself Billy Moon when he was a young child. “Moon” The author grows up is how the last name “Milne” Alan Alexander Milne was born in sounded when he said it. London in 1882. He had two older brothers. His father, John Vine Milne, ran a boys school named Henley House. from The Mini Page © 2012 Universal Uclick Alan went to school there when he photo by Howard Coster, courtesy Dutton/Penguin Publishing Co. was young. TM Going to school After college Rookie Cookie’s Recipe One of Alan’s early science teachers Alan became the editor of the Chili With Black Beans The original You’ll need: was author H.G. Wells, who later college magazine and later wrote for • 2 pounds lean ground beef • 1/2 teaspoon salt “Winnie-the- became a famous science fiction writer. other magazines. He worked as an • 1 tablespoon olive oil • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon Pooh” book (Wells is best known for his works assistant editor of a humor magazine • 1 medium onion, chopped • 1 cup beef broth was reissued • 3 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped • 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce on the 75th such as “The War of the Worlds” and in England. • 2 tablespoons chili powder • 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste anniversary “The Time Machine.”) Wells and Alan When World War I • 2 teaspoons ground cumin • 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, of its stayed friends throughout their lives. began, Alan enlisted What to do: drained and rinsed publication. After he grew up, Alan got in the British armed 1. Brown ground beef in a large skillet; pour off fat. Set aside. It was first 2. Heat oil in large pot; add onions and cook until tender. published in a scholarship to study math at services. He began 3. Add garlic; cook another minute. 1926. Cambridge University in England. writing plays while in the service. 4. Add spices and cook for 1 minute to blend well. While there, he and his brother Ken After the war ended, he wrote 5. Add broth, tomato sauce, tomato paste and cooked ground beef. 6. Heat to boiling; stir in beans. began composing funny poems for the an article against war. This article, 7. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer for 20 minutes. jacket art by E.H. Shepard, © Trustees of the Pooh Properties, courtesy Dutton/Penguin Dutton/Penguin courtesy Properties, Pooh the of © Trustees Shepard, E.H. by art jacket university magazine. “Peace With Honour,” became famous. You will need an adult’s help with this recipe. from The Mini Page © 2012 Universal Uclick Meet Laurie Berkner from The Mini Page © 2012 Universal Uclick Laurie Berkner is a singer and songwriter who formed a band to perform for kids, the Laurie Christopher Robin’s Bear Berkner Band. She formed her own recording company and has made several CDs for kids. “The Laurie grew up in Princeton, N.J. From the The real Christopher Robin The stories House time she was a child, she sang in choirs, played Alan and his wife, Dorothy Christopher and his mother in bands and performed in musicals. In high at Pooh school and college, she toured Europe with (nicknamed Daphne), gave birth to Corner” is invented stories and acted them out several choirs and orchestras as a soloist, both their only child, Christopher Robin, the second with his stuffed animals. Alan said as a singer and playing the guitar. in 1920. When Christopher was collection watching them play inspired him to photo by Steve Vaccariello After college, she worked as a music specialist of stories for preschools and day care centers in New York. The parents of her 3 years old, Alan began writing about write the Winnie-the-Pooh stories. students encouraged her to produce her first album. poems for children. The poems were Pooh and Alan also wrote a second book of She and her band appeared on Nick Jr. TV with their music videos. his friends. She has written two picture books that include CDs. published in a book, “When We Were poems for kids, “Now We Are Six.” Very Young.” It was He also continued to write plays, Laurie supports charities such as Room to Grow, which donates published clothing, books, toys and other items to babies in need. screenplays and novels for adults. from The Mini Page © 2012 Universal Uclick The real bear two years after The illustrator of the first Pooh from The Mini Page © 2012 Universal Uclick When Christopher was a child, TM “Winnie- books, Ernest Shepard, drew his he became friends with a real bear the-Pooh.” Christopher Robin based on what the at the London Zoo. It was called Dutton/Penguin courtesy Properties, Pooh the of Trustees © Shepard, E.H. by art jacket real 4-year-old boy was like. Supersport: Tyrann Mathieu Winnie. Christopher’s stuffed animals Height: 5-9 Birthdate: 5-13-92 He became such good friends with Weight: 175 Hometown: New Orleans the bear, and it was so tame, that Christopher played with several “Honey Badger” sounds a little like the title of a children’s zookeepers let Christopher go in the stuffed animals besides Winnie-the- book. But at Louisiana State University, it’s a nickname given Pooh. He had a toy donkey named to cornerback Tyrann Mathieu. cage with Winnie Like an aggressive badger, Mathieu was all over the field many times.* Eeyore and a stuffed pig named making game-changing plays. He tackled (70 hits), forced Piglet. Later, his parents gave him fumbles (6), recovered fumbles (5), broke up passes (7) and electrified Cajun Christopher named stuffed kangaroos, Kanga and Roo, Inc. Enterprises, Disney © All Rights Reserved crowds with dazzling punt returns, including two for touchdowns. his toy bear after the In No. 1-ranked LSU’s perfect regular season, the Tigers sophomore was live bear. and a toy tiger, Christopher Robin as he appears in named Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year. His reputation Tigger. the Disney movie “Winnie the Pooh.” as a defensive dynamo started last year, when he created 10 turnovers and *Today a zoo would not When the Disney artists began drawing also was voted MVP of the Cotton Bowl. let a child go into a bear’s Eeyore from the Christopher for the movies, they made A sports administration major, Mathieu isn’t the tallest or biggest college cage. It would be much too Disney movie his clothes more modern and American- player. But he’s one of the best at badgering opponents in a variety of ways. dangerous. “Winnie the Pooh.” Inc. Enterprises, © Disney All Rights Reserved looking. from The Mini Page © 2012 Universal Uclick from The Mini Page © 2012 Universal Uclick TM Creating Pooh’s World All the following jokes have something in common. Can you guess the common theme or category? The real Hundred Acre Wood Wally: Where would you be likely to find After the success of the first book Winnie-the-Pooh after he got married? of kids’ poems, the Milnes were able Wendy: On his honeymoon! to buy a farmhouse outside of London in East Sussex, England. They spent Wilson: Why didn’t Winnie-the-Pooh finish his vacations there, and later the family dinner? moved there. Winton: Because he was stuffed! Alan Milne and the illustrator Wesley: What does Winnie-the-Pooh sound like Ernest Shepard used a forest near when he cries? the farm, Ashdown Forest, as a art © Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved Wanda: “Pooh-hoo”! model for Pooh’s land. When they Disney artists modeled Owl’s house in the “Winnie the made the movie “Winnie the Pooh,” from The Mini Page © 2012 Universal Uclick Pooh” movie (above) after a real tree in Ashdown Forest TM Disney artists went to visit for near London (pictured at left). Basset Brown TRY ’n News inspiration. The A.A. Milne FIND Success of the books From books to movies Hound’s Ashdown Forest is the real version Words that remind us of A.A. Milne are hidden in the block below. Some of the imaginary Hundred Acre The Winnie-the-Pooh books have After Alan died in 1956, his widow words are hidden backward or diagonally. See if you can find: ACRE, been translated into more than 35 sold the movie and TV rights to The AUTHOR, BEAR, BOOKS, CHRISTOPHER, EEYORE, FOREST, HOME, Wood, the dark Forest and Roo’s HUNDRED, KANGA, MOVIE, OWL, PIGLET, POEMS, POOH, ROBIN, sandpit.