Nadya Williams is joined by Ivana Greco and Dixie Dillon-Lane to explore Winnie-the-Pooh as a children’s classic. They discuss what makes a book timeless, how Milne’s humor and characterization capture the child’s mind, the role of family lore and shared cultural touchstones, and how to navigate classics that don’t click with every child.

Chapters
00:03 – Origins of Winnie-the-Pooh and its enduring appeal
03:19 – Defining a “classic” in children’s literature
07:11 – Story plots, character development, and the child’s perspective
09:16 – Humor, literal thinking, and being “in on the joke”
13:10 – Power dynamics, Christopher Robin, and imaginative escape
15:32 – Re-reading classics through different life stages
17:05 – Songs, riddles, and the child’s interior life
21:25 – The instinctive music of childhood
24:55 – Character archetypes: Eeyore, Tigger, and self-recognition
29:46 – Literary touchstones in family culture
33:43 – When classics don’t click with your kids
41:22 – Encouraging literacy in homeschooling
47:12 – Adapting teaching methods to your child and yourself
49:51 – Avoiding power struggles in reading instruction
54:20 – Recognizing slow, steady progress
58:00 – Classics the guests wish they had written
01:07:18 – Books that become part of who we are

Links

Alexander Lenard, Winnie Ille Pu (the Latin translation) Ivana D. Greco, "The Home Front" Dixie Dillon Lane, "The Hollow"