‘Silly old bear’: New exhibition celebrates Winnie-the-Pooh

BOSTON (AP) — Winnie-the-Pooh, that silly old bear, is the star of a new exhibition at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts.

“Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring a Classic” explores how the beloved teddy bear dreamed up by author A.A. Milne and illustrator E.H. Shepard became a global phenomenon — along with his sidekick, Christopher Robin, and companions Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore and Rabbit.

The original Pooh books have been around for nearly a century, but they’re still wildly popular and have been translated into 50 languages. Disney released the movie “Christopher Robin” this summer.

Curator Meghan Melvin says many people are unfamiliar with the origins of the iconic story. The exhibition opening Saturday comprises nearly 200 original drawings, letters, photographs and early editions.