COVE

E.H. Shepard, “‘This party,’ said Christopher Robin, ‘is a party because of what someone did.’” Winnie-the-Pooh (1926), by A.A. Milne, Wikipedia. In this scene, Christopher Robin is holding a party for Edward Bear, better known as Winnie-the-Pooh, to commend him for rescuing Piglet during a flood. This moment also celebrates Pooh’s transformation from a gluttonous oaf into a courageous, thoughtful, and clever bear. Pooh's growth replicates the trajectory of a child's development, from toddlerhood to middle childhood. At the beginning of the book, he is similar to his younger friends, Piglet and Roo. He is extremely impulsive and forgetful, which often leads to him getting hurt. Over the course of the book, Pooh becomes increasingly similar to his more mature friends, such as Owl, Rabbit, and Kanga. By the end, he is significantly more observant, considerate, and brave than how he began. Not only does he save Piglet during a flood, but he creates multiple makeshift boats in order to do so, and saves Roo from a fast-moving river (and discovers the "Noth Pole" in the process). Shepard’s illustration depicts all of Pooh and Robin’s closest friends, as well as some others the reader has not been fully introduced to, excellently conveying the cheerfulness and importance of the scene. Though the exact setting of the scene is not mentioned, the background is reminiscent of the animals’ tree houses, which gives the setting a comfortable and familiar atmosphere—a perfect ending to the book.