The 100 Acre Wood's Newest Inhabitant

A whole new character has been added to the roster of popular characters from the stories first created in 1926 by Alan A. Milne.

David Benedictus, the author of Return to the Hundred Acre Wood, the first official continuation of the popular Winnie The Pooh series, has added the character of Lottie the Otter to Pooh's list of friends such as Tigger and Eeyore.


Mr. Benedictus has stated that Lottie, a character with a penchant for etiquette and a talent for cricket, is a welcome addition to the roster of characters first introduced in Milne's The House At Pooh Corner. In a statement to the BBC, Benedictus said the "feisty" newcomer "truly embodies Winnie-the-Pooh's values of friendship and adventure seen throughout Milne's work, thus making the perfect companion for everyone's favourite bear."

Furthermore, chairman of the Trustees of the Pooh Properties, hopes that "the new character will appeal to readers of all ages worldwide."

The new book is being sold in bookstores across the United States and United Kingdom since yesterday.

Has the book and its new character kept a timeless classic alive and available to 21st century readers? Or has David Benedictus and the Trustees of the Pooh Properties gone too far?

I leave you to decide, friends.

Meanwhile, feel free to access the original information from the links to news websites such as the BBC and the Telegraph, as well as one link from Amazon for the sale of the new book and the original story by Milne.

External Links:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts_and_culture/8283255.stm

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Return-Hundred-Acre-David-Benedictus/dp/1405247444/ref=sr_1_1/277-8590570-0613255?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254844836&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/House-Pooh-Corner-Original/dp/0525444440

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/booknews/6260369/First-new-Winnie-the-Pooh-book-in-80-years-goes-on-sale.html

Image courtesy of the BBC and Mark Burgess