When we were very young

In Short

When We Were Very Young by A. A. Milne is a charming collection of poetry that celebrates the innocence and imagination of childhood. Through simple yet evocative verses, Milne captures the everyday adventures and observations of young children, from exploring the corner of the street to imagining grand adventures in the nursery. The poems are filled with humor, warmth, and a touch of nostalgia, making them delightful for both children and adults. Illustrated by E. H. Shepard, the book is a timeless treasure that invites readers to revisit the magical world of early childhood.

The Story

When We Were Very Young is a collection of poems that takes readers on a journey through the eyes of a child, exploring the wonders and whimsies of early life. Each poem is a snapshot of childhood experiences, from the mundane to the magical, all told with Milne's signature charm and wit.

The book begins with "Corner-of-the-Street," a poem that sets the tone for the collection, capturing the excitement of a child's exploration of their neighborhood. This is followed by "Buckingham Palace," where a child imagines the grandeur of the royal residence, blending reality with fantasy.

"Happiness" celebrates the simple joys of childhood, like having great big waterproof boots and a hat, while "The Christening" humorously ponders the name for a dormouse with an enormous tail. "Puppy and I" tells the story of a child's encounter with various animals, each of whom has a reason not to accompany the child on their walk, until finally a puppy agrees to join.

"Twinkletoes" is a playful poem about a child's imaginary dance on the leaves of an apple tree, and "The Four Friends" introduces a group of animal friends—Ernest the elephant, Leonard the lion, George the goat, and James the snail—each with their own unique characteristics.

"Lines and Squares" humorously warns children about the dangers of stepping on the lines of the street, where bears wait to eat the "sillies" who dare to tread on them. "Brownie" is a mysterious poem about a Brownie who lives behind a curtain, adding a touch of enchantment to the collection.

"Independence" captures a child's defiance of well-meaning advice, while "Nursery Chairs" transforms ordinary furniture into vehicles for imaginative play. "Market Square" tells the story of a child's quest to buy a rabbit, only to find that the money they have is never enough.

"Daffodowndilly" is a whimsical poem about a daffodil's springtime dance, and "Water-Lilies" paints a serene picture of a lake where a child imagines the Lake King's daughter sleeping on a leaf. "Disobedience" humorously recounts the consequences of a child's refusal to eat rice pudding, and "Spring Morning" captures the joy of a child's wanderings through nature.

"The Island" is a fantastical poem about a child's imaginary journey to a distant island, where they can be alone and free. "The Three Foxes" tells the story of three foxes who live in the forest, enjoying simple pleasures and adventures. "Politeness" humorously contrasts a child's polite responses with their true feelings.

"Jonathan Jo" introduces a character with a mouth like an "O" and a wheelbarrow full of surprises, while "At the Zoo" captures a child's wonder at the animals they see. "Rice Pudding" revisits the theme of a child's refusal to eat, this time with a humorous twist.

"The Wrong House" is a playful poem about a child's confusion between a grand house and a more ordinary one, and "Missing" tells the story of a lost mouse. "The King's Breakfast" humorously depicts the king's frustration over not having butter for his toast, and "Hoppity" celebrates the joy of a child's hopping.

"At Home" imagines a child's pretend play with a soldier, while "Summer Afternoon" captures the lazy warmth of a summer day. "The Dormouse and the Doctor" tells the story of a dormouse who prefers his own view of the world to the doctor's advice. "Shoes and Stockings" celebrates the pride a child feels in wearing grown-up clothes, and "Sand-Between-the-Toes" captures the joy of a day at the beach.

"Knights and Ladies" imagines a child's encounter with a knight from the Middle Ages, and "Little Bo-Peep and Little Boy-Blue" humorously updates the classic nursery rhymes. "The Mirror" reflects on the magic of a mirror that shows a child's imagination, and "Halfway Down" captures the unique perspective of a child sitting on the stairs.

"The Invaders" tells the story of cows marching through a wood, and "Before Tea" humorously depicts a child's impatience for tea time. "Teddy Bear" celebrates the pride a teddy bear feels in being short and stout, and "Bad Sir Brian Botany" tells the tale of a knight who learns humility after losing his battleaxe and spurs.

"In the Fashion" humorously laments a child's desire for a tail, while "The Alchemist" imagines an old man working on a spell to turn nursery fender into gold. "Growing Up" celebrates the milestones of childhood, like wearing braces and running races, and "If I Were King" imagines the freedoms a child would have if they were king.

The collection concludes with "Vesper," a poignant poem about a child saying their prayers, capturing the innocence and sweetness of childhood.

How It Unfolds

Corner-of-the-Street: The collection begins with a child's exploration of their neighborhood, setting the tone for the poems to come. Buckingham Palace: A child imagines the grandeur of the royal residence, blending reality with fantasy. Happiness: Celebrates the simple joys of childhood, like having waterproof boots and a hat. The Christening: Humorously ponders the name for a dormouse with an enormous tail. Puppy and I: Tells the story of a child's encounter with various animals, each with a reason not to accompany the child. Twinkletoes: A playful poem about a child's imaginary dance on apple tree leaves. The Four Friends: Introduces a group of animal friends, each with unique characteristics. Lines and Squares: Warns children about the dangers of stepping on the lines of the street. Brownie: Adds a touch of enchantment with a mysterious Brownie living behind a curtain. Independence: Captures a child's defiance of well-meaning advice. Nursery Chairs: Transforms ordinary furniture into vehicles for imaginative play. Market Square: Tells the story of a child's quest to buy a rabbit, only to find their money is never enough. Daffodowndilly: A whimsical poem about a daffodil's springtime dance. Water-Lilies: Paints a serene picture of a lake where a child imagines the Lake King's daughter. Disobedience: Humorously recounts the consequences of a child's refusal to eat rice pudding. Spring Morning: Captures the joy of a child's wanderings through nature. The Island: A fantastical poem about a child's imaginary journey to a distant island. The Three Foxes: Tells the story of three foxes who enjoy simple pleasures and adventures. Politeness: Humorously contrasts a child's polite responses with their true feelings. Jonathan Jo: Introduces a character with a mouth like an "O" and a wheelbarrow full of surprises. At the Zoo: Captures a child's wonder at the animals they see. Rice Pudding: Revisits the theme of a child's refusal to eat, this time with a humorous twist. The Wrong House: A playful poem about a child's confusion between a grand house and a more ordinary one. Missing: Tells the story of a lost mouse. The King's Breakfast: Humorously depicts the king's frustration over not having butter for his toast. Hoppity: Celebrates the joy of a child's hopping. At Home: Imagines a child's pretend play with a soldier. Summer Afternoon: Captures the lazy warmth of a summer day. The Dormouse and the Doctor: Tells the story of a dormouse who prefers his own view of the world. Shoes and Stockings: Celebrates the pride a child feels in wearing grown-up clothes. Sand-Between-the-Toes: Captures the joy of a day at the beach. Knights and Ladies: Imagines a child's encounter with a knight from the Middle Ages. Little Bo-Peep and Little Boy-Blue: Humorously updates the classic nursery rhymes. The Mirror: Reflects on the magic of a mirror that shows a child's imagination. Halfway Down: Captures the unique perspective of a child sitting on the stairs. The Invaders: Tells the story of cows marching through a wood. Before Tea: Humorously depicts a child's impatience for tea time. Teddy Bear: Celebrates the pride a teddy bear feels in being short and stout. Bad Sir Brian Botany: Tells the tale of a knight who learns humility. In the Fashion: Humorously laments a child's desire for a tail. The Alchemist: Imagines an old man working on a spell to turn nursery fender into gold. Growing Up: Celebrates the milestones of childhood. If I Were King: Imagines the freedoms a child would have if they were king. Vesper: Concludes with a poignant poem about a child saying their prayers.

The People

The Child: The central figure in the poems, whose experiences and imagination drive the narratives. The child is curious, playful, and often defiant, capturing the essence of childhood. Nurse: A recurring character who represents the adult world, often offering advice or guidance that the child may or may not follow. Animals: Various animals, from puppies to foxes, appear throughout the poems, adding a touch of whimsy and adventure. Family Members: Parents, aunts, and uncles are occasionally mentioned, providing a backdrop of family life and relationships. Imaginary Characters: Figures like the Brownie and the Lake King's daughter add a magical element to the poems, reflecting the child's rich imagination.

In Its Own Voice

From Corner-of-the-Street:

"Down by the corner of the street, Where the three roads meet, And the feet Of the people as they pass go ‘Tweet-tweet-tweet—’ Who comes tripping round the corner of the street? One pair of shoes which are Nurse’s; One pair of slippers which are Percy’s . . . Tweet! Tweet! Tweet!"

From Buckingham Palace:

"They’re changing guard at Buckingham Palace— Christopher Robin went down with Alice. Alice is marrying one of the guard. ‘A soldier’s life is terrible hard,’ Says Alice."

From Happiness:

"John had Great Big Waterproof Boots on; John had a Great Big Waterproof Hat; John had a Great Big Waterproof Mackintosh— And that (Said John) Is That."

From Puppy and I:

"I met a man as I went walking; We got talking, Man and I. ‘Where are you going to, Man?’ I said (I said to the Man as he went by). ‘Down to the village, to get some bread. Will you come with me?’ ‘No, not I.’"

From Teddy Bear:

"A bear, however hard he tries, Grows tubby without exercise. Our Teddy Bear is short and fat Which is not to be wondered at; He gets what exercise he can By falling off the ottoman, But generally seems to lack The energy to clamber back."

What It's Really About

When We Were Very Young is really about the magic of childhood, seen through the lens of a child's imagination and experiences. The poems explore themes of innocence, curiosity, and the joy of discovery. Milne captures the way children see the world—full of wonder, humor, and a touch of mischief. The collection also touches on the relationships between children and adults, highlighting the sometimes humorous gap between a child's perspective and an adult's expectations. Through its celebration of the small joys and adventures of childhood, the book invites readers of all ages to revisit the simplicity and enchantment of their early years.

Why Read It Today

When We Were Very Young is a timeless collection that continues to charm readers with its warmth, humor, and nostalgia. The poems are perfect for sharing with children, offering a gentle and engaging introduction to poetry. For adults, the book provides a delightful reminder of the joys and wonders of childhood, evoking a sense of nostalgia and appreciation for the simple pleasures of life. Milne's ability to capture the voice and perspective of a child is remarkable, making the poems feel both universal and personal. The illustrations by E. H. Shepard add to the book's charm, bringing the characters and scenes to life with a whimsical touch. Whether read aloud or enjoyed quietly, When We Were Very Young is a treasure that invites readers to slow down, smile, and remember the magic of being young. Its enduring appeal lies in its ability to connect with readers of all ages, offering a shared experience of joy and wonder.