LONDON, Jan. 10 (UPI) -- Winnie the Pooh and friends are to appear in a new book this year -- the first in 80 years, say the trustees of A.A. Milne's estate.
To be published in October, "Return to the Hundred Acre Wood" is expected to be a bestseller next Christmas, The Times of London reported Saturday.
Milne wrote two books about his son, Christopher Robin, and the boy's favorite stuffed bear, Winnie: "Winnie-the-Pooh" published in 1926 and "The House at Pooh Corner" published in 1928 -- each have been translated into more than 50 languages.
The new book, written by David Benedictus and illustrated by Mark Burgess, captures the "feel and the spirit and the turn of phrase of the originals," said Michael Brown, a spokesman for the trustees of the Milne estate. Two thirds of the book's profits are to be donated to charity.
While this is the first Pooh book in many years, Disney since 1961 has owned the rights to produce Pooh film, television and merchandise, all of which have been condemned by Pooh purists, the Times reported.
