Good news for all you die-hard Winnie-the-Pooh fans: The first official sequel to the original Pooh books will hit store shelves later this year, more than 80 years after the chubby honey-loving bear first appeared in print.
According to publishers, “Return to the Hundred Acre Wood,” is a follow up to A.A. Milne’s “Winnie-the-Pooh” and “The House At Pooh Corner.” It will appear in bookstores worldwide October 5th. The new book will be written by David Benedictus, who produced an audio adaptation of Winnie-the-Pooh starring actress Judi Dench. In addition, Mark Burgess, who is known for drawing classic children’s characters such as Paddington Bear, is set to provide the illustrations.
A spokesperson for the Milne and Shepard estates told news reporters sequels were put on hold for so long because trustees of Pooh Properties would not allow material to be published unless it did justice to the original Winnie-the-Pooh stories.
BURGER KING RETALIATES
Bigwigs at Burger King are retaliating against those who dubbed their new men’s fragrance “a disservice to mankind.”
The stink over the new fragrance started a few months ago when the home of the Whopper launched a new men’s body spray called “Flame.” The company described the spray as “the scent of seduction with a hint of flame-broiled meat.”
“Flame” was marketed as the “ideal stocking stuffer” around the holidays. It was featured online and in several New York City retailers and sold for an affordable $3.99. The price wasn’t the issue according to critics of the flame-broiled scent, rather naysayers took aim at the way Burger King marketed the product. The company used its website to feature a photo of its King character reclining fireside, nude, save for an animal fur strategically placed over an offensive area.
Opponents of the ad railed on the fast food giant and urged the company to yank the promotion. Unfortunately for “Flame” critics, Burger King was unfazed by the ruckus and has has since unveiled a new campaign dubbed “Whopper Virgins,” which features a taste test with fast-food “virgins” pitting the Whopper against McDonald’s Big Mac. No word on whether nearly naked women will be a part of the new ad campaign.