What’s even better than Winnie-the-Pooh? Winnie-the-Pooh in Latin, of course! Some of you may be saying, “Huh?” Why would you translate a children’s story into a dead language? I don’t know, but it is real and it’s called Winnie ille Pu. Just look! Pooh Bear’s in a toga and it’s so adorable.
Alexander Lenard translated A.A. Milne’s classic into the Latin language, and published it in 1960. Then and now, it proved quite unexpectedly to be very popular. Winnie ille Pu is the only Latin language book to ever become a New York Times best seller. Nothing is written in English—not even the map labels! It has been called “the greatest book a dead language has ever known.” Its popularity took even the publishers by surprise; they had only ordered a small printing to be made of the book, and within weeks it was nowhere to be found in bookstores.
Lenard spoke 12 languages, and was a Latin enthusiast. Taking seven years to translate the whole of Milne’s first Pooh book, Lenard almost became an additional author in his own right. He tailored the translation to include its own alliteration, puns, rhymes, and other language-specific quirks. Actual Latin scholars would be able to read this book for its own enjoyment, not just as an exercise.
One of the best things about Winnie ille Pu is figuring out how Lenard re-named all of the characters. Here is a list of their new Latin christenings:
Christophorus Robinus: Christopher Robin
Porcellus: Piglet
Ior: Eeyore
Bubo: Owl
Ru: Roo
Lepus: Rabbit
Canga: Kanga
Now, you may be thinking, where is Tiggerus? I also searched for him in vain. Fun fact: Tigger does not appear until the second Pooh Bear book, The House at Pooh Corner, and he is the only new major character to be introduced.
It’s Who Week! We start off with an order I got this week from Baby Mason and his Whovian parents who wanted to celebrate his 3rd birthday is true who style.
With a Winnie the Pooh/Doctor Who crossover cake!I just love crossover cakes.
The quality parent’s wanted the cake based on this T-shirt (Which I had trouble tracking down, but eventually found the true artist. Thanks, Google Images!)
They also thought Tigger needed a companion- So in steps Piglet the crafty Dalek, made from things he found around his house.
Tigger and Piglet are free standing fondant/chocolate figures and the POLISE BOCS is made from chocolate-hazelnut cake with tri-chocolate buttercream.
Brinens and Things 