Winnie-the-Pooh gets new friend
Winnie-the-Pooh has been given a new friend, a "feisty" otter named Lottie, who appears in the bear's much-anticipated new adventures following a gap of some 80 years.
Lottie the Otter features on the UK front cover of the forthcoming book Return to the Hundred Acre Wood.
The cover, unveiled today, also depicts Pooh's familiar friends, including Tigger, Piglet and Eeyore.
The book, which hits the shops on Monday, is illustrated by Mark Burgess, who has also brought classic children's character Paddington Bear to life.
Author David Benedictus said: "It's an honour to have created this new adventure for Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends, and it seemed only right that they have a new friend to enjoy such an adventure with.
"Lottie the Otter 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."
Egmont Publishing described Lottie as "a feisty character who is bound to cause a stir in the Hundred Acre Wood.
"Lottie has her own very definite ideas about how things should be done. She believes that one must always follow the correct etiquette. If not, she's sure to let you know about it!"
In the 10 new stories in Return to the Hundred Acre Wood, Lottie swims in Christopher Robin's bath, helps to set up an academy, and turns out to be good at cricket.
Benedictus has taken over the mantle from AA Milne, the original author behind the tales about the honey-loving bear's life.
Winnie-the-Pooh was first published in 1926 and is available in 50 languages around the world, and Milne's last Pooh tale, The House At Pooh Corner, was in 1928.
Milne named Pooh after a teddy bear owned by his son, Christopher Robin, and Disney made its first cartoon based on the characters in 1966.
Benedictus's new manuscript was inspired by his familiarity with the bear's adventures after working on audio CD adaptations of previous Winnie-the-Pooh stories starring Dame Judi Dench, Stephen Fry and Jane Horrocks.
He was commissioning editor for drama series at Channel 4, and ran The Book At Bedtime for BBC Radio.
Michael Brown, chairman of the Trustees of the Pooh Properties, said: "Milne's stories may have been written in 1920s England but they are set in the enchanting world of a child's imagination.
"David's new stories, including the new character, arise naturally out of that world and so, like the original stories, are timeless.
"We hope the new character will appeal to readers of all ages worldwide."
