Once There Was a Bear: Tales of Before It All Began

Jane Riordan · A. A. Milne

Oct 2023 · Penguin Random House Audio · Narrated by Adjoa Andoh

About this audiobook

A delightful new collection of Winnie-the-Pooh stories, told in the style of A. A. Milne, that explores life before the Hundred Acre Wood.

How did Christopher Robin meet his beloved bear? Did Pooh and his friends see any of London before they moved to the Hundred Acre Wood? These questions and more are explored in this charming new collection of stories.

Each tale features a gentle adventure set in London or the countryside, and they include iconic locations such as Harrods, London Zoo, and the Natural History Museum. Pooh, Eeyore, and Piglet even make a new friend: Flo the house mouse. Written in the timeless style of A. A. Milne, with illustrations that are true to the spirit of the original drawings by E. H. Shepard. These sweet and comforting tales are perfect for both new readers and longtime fans.

About the author

Jane Riordan has written a number of Winnie-the-Pooh books, including Winnie-the-Pooh Goes to London and Winnie-the-Pooh Meets the Queen.

A. A. Milne was born in 1882 in London. He was a playwright and journalist as well as a poet and storyteller. His classic children's books were inspired by his son, Christopher Robin. Milne died in 1956.

Mark Burgess is a writer and illustrator of children's books. He has provided illustrations in the style of E. H. Shepard for multiple Winnie-the-Pooh books, including Return to the Hundred Acre Wood and The Best Bear in All the World.

Ernest H. Shepard was born in 1879 in England. His pictures of the Pooh characters are based on real toys owned by Christopher Robin Milne. Shepard died in 1976.