Project Disney- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

Project Disney: The plan is to tackle all of the Disney films, re-reading the classic stories and tales that inspired many of them and to look at how the changes the filmmakers made, the new elements they introduced and the essential elements they kept. We will, of course, be talking about the films as movies as well, saying why we enjoy them and what some of our favorite moments are, but our focus will be on looking at them as adaptations. For the films that are not drawn from any one work we’ll be looking at some of the possible literary influences that we see in the stories. I am participating in Project Disney inspired by Picture Me Reading!  

"Silly Old Bear." Project Disney this time around is The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977) based off the books Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne.  I loved this Project Disney so much. There is so much Pooh out there that I had forgotten just how good the original Winnie the Pooh movie is.  I had never read the original Winnie the Pooh book (perhaps my mother read tit to me) and I loved it so much.  There are so many re-tellings of the Pooh stories I don't think I even knew about the Milne book.  Even re-watching the movie after all these years was wonderful.  As an adult I pushed this movie off as just for kids, and realized this is not the case.  I think all the remakes made me believe this.   I watched it all the time as a child and we even had a record with the music from the movie.  The movie is actually composed of three short movies that were made into one film which is unique for a Disney movie.

Original illustration by Shepard

The book I read is the Complete Tales of Winnie the Pooh, which includes both books that Milne wrote which are Winnie the Pooh and House at Pooh Corner.  The book also includes the original illustrations by E.H. Shepard (who also illustrated the Wind in the Willows which will be a future Project Disney).  I think those are so whimsical and wonderful.  The book's stories are so simple but yet beautiful.  I found such magic in them... an innocence of sorts. The book is actually a story being told to a boy about his stuffed animals. Pooh's character in the book is just an easy going bear.  He is fluffy, doesn't have a lot of brains and loves honey.  Winnie the Pooh's real name is Edward in the real world.. but Christopher Robin names him Pooh in the stories.  Christopher Robin is the actual name of Milne's son in real life.

The film represents the original story marvelously.  I love that it even looks like a children's book. I think this is quite creative and really adds more to the film.  Disney has changed a few things from the book... really though they have just added some neat and fun lines.. especially for Tigger.  Tigger's best quote is "TTFN- TaTa for now"! Really though the movie follows the book really well.  When Pooh is tracking his own footprints, Tigger gets stuck in the tree, Pooh gets stuck in Rabbit's front door.  All from the book. At the end of the book broke my heart. We are readers know that Christopher Robin is growing up and leaving his imagination behind him.  It was so sad.  I loved it.  Then to see it in this film was just as sad.  In the movie though we are told that Christopher Robin is going to school, while in the book we are reading from Pooh, Owl, Eeyore, Rabbit, Piglet's perspective so they are confused and don't actually know where he is going.  They all say goodbye to him in the book.

One part of the film not in the book that is WAY out there and scared me as a child is the part where “Heffalumps and Woozles” float all around in a psychedelic way.  It is odd and still scares me as an adult!! The music is so great, like the classic song the "Wonderful Things about Tiggers"! I just loved Tigger so much. I just love Pooh.. he tries to be such a good bear.  I think people love Pooh and his stories so much because it represents what we want friendships to be, we want love to be, we want to be able to fail try again and succeed.

Again I am truly glad I watched this.  Winnie the Pooh now seems to be marketed to the preschool crowd so honestly I just brushed it off. I was also surprised by the book length and how good it was.  The book and film are great and should get more attention though it's hard with all the revamps that are out there.


Check out my other Project Disney:
Snow White
Cinderella
Peter Pan
Treasure Planet
Sleeping Beauty
The Great Mouse Detective 
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Princess and the Frog
Pinocchio 
Fantasia 
Beauty and the Beast
Lady and the Tramp
Alice in Wonderland
The Rescuers
The Rescuers Down Under
Tangled
Oliver and Company
Mulan
The Little Mermaid
Bambi
101 Dalmatians
Frozen
Fantasia 2000
The Jungle Book
The Emperor's New Groove
The Sword in the Stone
Aladdin
Atlantis
The Aristocats
The Lion King
Winnie the Pooh (2011)
Robin Hood
Hercules
Pocahontas
Dumbo
The Black Cauldron  
Mary Poppins
Lilo and Stitch
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
Make Mine Music
Tarzan
Fox and the Hound
Melody Time 

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King Pop Up Book

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon

I read the Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King long ago. I remember because my mom spoiled it for me (yea mom I'm talking about you on my blog).  She was like... "have you got to this part".... turned out that part was a pretty big deal.  I still love you mom!  Anyways.. then I kept seeing the Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon as a popup book at Barnes and Nobles but could never look inside because it was wrapped up.  Finally I got my hands on it.  Here is the goodreads description:

Nine-year-old Trisha McFarland strays from the path while she and her recently divorced mother and brother take a hike along a branch of the Appalachian Trail. Lost for days, wandering farther and farther astray, Trisha has only her portable radio for comfort. A huge fan of Tom Gordon, a Boston Red Sox relief pitcher, she listens to baseball games and fantasizes that her hero will save her. Nature isn't her only adversary, though - something dangerous may be tracking Trisha through the dark woods.  

I was able to get a copy of the pop-up edition from my library through their inter-loan system.  I was really happy they were able to get it for me. This is a spooky story.  One about a girl who has to survive being in the woods alone.  If you have ever been in the woods.. and I mean the deep woods you would know that this would be pretty terrifying! The book is one of King's best... it's one where he explores our minds.  How would we psychologically be in a situation like this.

Girl gets separated from her parents

Trisha is the girl who gets lost in the woods. While in the woods she fins out she is not alone. She talks to her pal Tom Gordon, who is the Red Sox pitcher.  She is a huge fan of baseball and she and him have fun imaginative conversations. There is something else in the in the woods with her that she doesn't want to find out what it is.

 

As far as the pop-up book I didn't love it.  I have seen better.  I just thought some of the parts that were part of the pop up was the same.  There were two forest scenes and I thought that could've been better (like there could've been a different one figured out).  Just seeing one of King's books in pop-up form though is super fun. I think it would be fun to read this for the first time with the pop-up illustrations.  

Beat up truck in book

Overall this is a wonderful story... the pop-up book is just a neat addition. It would be perfect for someone who is a King fan too.

What does the crystal ball say (this is for the popup parts only) the story part gets 5 stars :

Fog is coming.....  in the middle of the road on this book!

Tequila Mockingbird by Tim Federle

Tequila Mockingbird by Tim Federle

I was so glad when my library finally got this book.  I love cocktails!  I am not the best at making them at home though.. I have to have recipes! I really love recipes themed off books (movies/TV shows).  So when I heard about this book I had to read it.  Here is the goodreads description:

Congrats. You fought through War and Peace, burned through Fahrenheit 451, and sailed through Moby-Dick. All right, you nearly drowned in Moby-Dick, but you made it to shore—and you deserve a drink! A fun gift for barflies and a terrific treat for book clubs, Tequila Mockingbird is the ultimate cocktail book for the literary obsessed. Featuring 65 delicious drink recipes—paired with wry commentary on history’s most beloved novels—the book also includes bar bites, drinking games, and whimsical illustrations throughout. Even if you don’t have a B.A. in English, tonight you’re gonna drink like you do. Drinks include: The Pitcher of Dorian Grey Goose The Last of the Mojitos Love in the Time of Kahlúa Romeo and Julep A Rum of One’s Own Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margarita Vermouth the Bell Tolls and more.  

Unfortunately.. I didn't make any of the recipes before this review. I know... you wanted to see pictures of them made up right?? This book is for everyone. There are alcoholic recipes, virgin drinks, food recipes, and even recipes for book clubs so that you can make a bowl of punch.   You not only get the recipes for a drink based off the book but there is also a book description provided as well.

Carrie by Stephen King - Bloody Carrie

I love the look the book has. Like an old book.. with cream colored pages. The beginning of the book is so excellent.  I am not a bartender (like I said before) so I have no idea what some drink terms are.  The book tells you about the different glasses, what the terms mean when mixing a drink, types of alcohol, and even garnishes. I truly believe this would be so fun for a book club meeting.

Wizard of Oz non-alcoholic drink

The only problem I can find with this book is that I probably won't ever own all the different types of alcohol since I am the only drinker in my house and would have to drink it up all alone. Or is that a problem???? HA! Some of the drinks though have very easily accessible ingredients.  Especially in the non-alcoholic section.  We had everything for the Wonderful Blizzard of Oz drink!

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea Breeze

I loved this book. Really even if you don't drink pick it up and just glance through it. I found it very witty and enjoyable. A perfect gift for someone too. I copied down some of the recipes for myself since I borrowed mine from the library to keep for future reference.  Just love this book!!

Orange Julius Caesar

The crystal ball says:

Sun is shinning!!!  Great day to go outside and read this book.