Who illustrated the original 'Winnie-the-Pooh' books?

E. H. Shepard illustrated the original 'Winnie-the-Pooh' books written by A. A. Milne. His delicate pen-and-ink drawings helped define Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, Christopher Robin, and the Hundred Acre Wood for generations of readers.

Shepard and Milne first worked together on 'When We Were Very Young', a 1924 collection of poems. Milne then asked Shepard to illustrate 'Winnie-the-Pooh', published in 1926, followed by 'The House at Pooh Corner' in 1928. Shepard also illustrated related Milne books, including 'Now We Are Six'.

A common mistake is crediting Walt Disney, whose company later adapted Pooh for animation and created its own visual style. Disney did not illustrate Milne's original books. A. A. Milne was the author, while Shepard was the illustrator. Shepard's Pooh was based partly on a stuffed bear owned by his son, not directly on Christopher Robin's toy.