Whether Pooh was he or she is of such small significance I am amazed at how much I have been reading today. Pooh is mine, just as he/she was Christopher Robin’s and as Christopher so aptly explained:
When I first heard his name, I said, just as you are going to say, “But I thought he was a boy?”
“So did I,” said Christopher Robin.
“Then you can’t call him Winnie?”
“I don’t.”
“But you said–“
“He’s Winnie-ther-Pooh. Don’t you know what ‘ther’ means?”
“Ah, yes, now I do,” I said quickly; and I hope you do too, because it is all the explanation you are going to get.
Winnie for Winston or Winnie for Winifred or Winnie for Winnipeg
be he he or be he she
that little comforting honey bear only ever wore a shirt and that was not all the time.
Although Shepard’s illustrations look boy like to me who cares?
He was always there when I needed him!
Winnie ther Pooh will always be a child’s best friend.