Pooh Welcomes Winter

"Winter will be here soon," said Winnie the Pooh. That's what Christopher Robin says." "Who's Winter?" asked Piglet. "The someone who is coming soon," said Pooh. "Oh, a visitor!" cried Piglet. "We should do something nice for him." "We could give him a party," said Pooh. "What a grand idea," said Piglet. "Come on," said Pooh. "Let's go and tell the others."

Outside, the cold wind was busy blowing the last leaves off the old oak tree. It was snowing, and the big fluffy snowflakes rushed down Pooh's collar and settled behind Piglet's ear. "Maybe we should put on our hats and scarves," said Pooh. Piglet rubbed his ears. "P-P-Pooh," he chattered, "p-p-perhaps we should stay at home now and tell everyone about the p-p-party tomorrow." "But the party will be over by then," said Pooh, putting on his hat and scarf. He wrapped a Pooh-sized scarf around little Piglet twice and gave him a hat to wear.

They met Tigger along the way, and they walked to Kanga and Roo's house together. By the time they got there, they were so chilled they had to stay for tea. When they were finally warm enough to remember why they were here, Pooh said, "Winter is coming soon, and we're giving him a party." "Oh boy! A party!" shouted Tigger. "Let's go!" cried Roo.

They opened the door. A pile of snow swooshed in and buried them. The wind was quiet. The Hundred-Acre Wood seemed to be napping under a thick blanket of white. They blinked. "How will we get to the party?" asked Piglet. "The snow's so deep!"

"Don't worry, Little Buddy," said Tigger. "We'll go by sledge!" They said goodbye to Kanga and set off. Tigger and Pooh pulled. Piglet and Roo rode. Roo reached over the side and grabbed snow to make snowballs. Piglet piled them on the sledge. "These will make good presents for Winter," Roo said.

"Winter has arrived!" declared Owl, who had landed on a branch overhead. "I heard Christopher Robin say so." "Oh!" cried Pooh. "Do you know where Winter is?" Everyone got off the sledge and gathered round Owl. "I haven't seen him myself," said Owl. "We'll have to hurry and find him," said Pooh. He told Owl about the party. "Would you fly over and tell Rabbit and Gopher?" "Don't forget Eeyore," whispered Piglet. "And Eeyore," said Pooh. "I'd be happy to oblige," said Owl.

As Owl flew off, Tigger and Pooh climbed onto the sledge with Piglet and Roo. "Yaaay!" they all shouted as they slid down the hill towards Christopher Robin's house. They were planning to ask him where they could find Winter. "There's Christopher Robin!" cried Roo. Pooh called out, "Hallooo!" Christopher Robin didn't answer. "Oh no!" cried Piglet, "Maybe he's frozen in the cold!"

"That's not Christopher Robin," said Tigger. "That's Winter!" "Winter?" whispered Pooh. "How do you know?" "Tiggers always know Winter when they see him. That big white face - that carroty nose. Who else could he be?" said Tigger. "Well," said Pooh, "he looks shy. We should be extra friendly." He walked right up to Winter. "How do you do?" he said. He shook Winter's stick hand. "I'm Pooh, and this is Tigger and Piglet and Roo." Winter was very quiet.

Piglet nudged Pooh. "Tell him about the party." "What party?" asked Pooh. "You know," whispered Piglet. "HIS party." "Oh yes," said Pooh. "We are so happy to have you in the Hundred-Acre Wood, we are giving a party in your honour." Winter didn't say anything. "Oh d-d-dear," said Piglet. "He's frozen!" "Quick!" cried Tigger. "We'd better get him to the party and warm him up." They hoisted Winter onto the sledge.

Roo showed him the snowballs. "I made these just for you," he said. Winter did not even look. "Wow, he's in a bad shape," said Tigger. Tigger and Pooh pulled the sledge. Roo and Piglet pushed the sledge. When they finally slid up to Pooh's house, the others were already there. Owl had hung a big friendly sign over Pooh's door -WELCOME WINTER. Eeyore had stuck a pine branch in the snow. Little icicles sparkled on its needles. Rabbit and Gopher were inside, making hot cocoa and honey carrot cake.

Pooh and Tigger wrestled Winter off the sledge. "Give him the comfy chair by the fire!" ordered Rabbit. "Gopher, get him some hot cocoa!" Everyone fussed over Winter. Still, he did not say a word. His carrot nose drooped. His stick hands fells. "Oh my!" cried Piglet. "Maybe he's not the party type," said Eeyore. "Our cocoa'sss making him sssick," whistled Gopher. "What are we going to do?" asked Rabbit.

Just then, Christopher Robin tramped up to the door in his big boots. "Has anyone seen my snowman?' he asked. "No," said Pooh glumly, "but maybe you can help us. We brought Winter here for a special party, but he doesn't seem to like it." "Silly old bear!" Christopher Robin laughed. "Winter is not a who - it's a what." "What?" asked Pooh. "This is my snowman," said Christopher Robin. "He's not Winter?" asked Pooh. "No," said Christopher Robin. "Winter is a season - you know, a time of the year. Cold snow and mistletoe....warm fires and good friends....

" Pooh scratched his nose thoughtfully. "Yes, I see now," he said. "Of course, I am a bear of very little brain." "You're the best bear in all the world," said Christopher Robin. "Come on, we'd better get the snowman back outside before he melts completely." "Oh d-d-d-dear," said Piglet. "I hope we haven't ruined him." "Snowmen are easy to fix," said Christopher Robin. They undrooped the snowman's nose and stuck his stick hands back in. Eeyore laid the pine branch in his hands. "Well, so much for the party," he said. "Yes," said Pooh. "Too bad."

"Pooh," said Christopher Robin, "we can still have a party to celebrate winter. It's a great idea!" "It is?" asked Pooh. "Sure," said Christopher Robin. "Let's have fun!" So everyone threw Roo's snowballs. They took turns riding on Tigger's sledge. They made snow angels. They caught snowflakes on their tongues. And they sang songs and danced around the snowman until they couldn't dance any more.

"Everyone inside for honey carrot cake and hot cocoa! called Rabbit. They all gathered around the fire. But this time, they left the snowman outside where he belonged. Christopher Robin gave Pooh a little hug. "Happy winter, Pooh, "he said. "Happy winter! cried Pooh.

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