Now We Are Six

I’ll admit, I approached *Now We Are Six* with skepticism—how many times can you listen to poems about Christopher Robin before it feels like a museum piece? But Peter Dennis’s narration blew away my preconceptions. His voice is *alive* with mischief, especially in poems like *"Binker"* (where his exaggerated huffing as the titular dog is pure gold) or *"The Knight Whose Armour Didn’t Squeak"* (delivered with the gravitas of a Shakespearean soliloquy). The pacing is impeccable; Dennis knows when to linger on a punchline (like the deadpan *"But now I am six, I’m as clever as clever"*) and when to clip along during the more lyrical verses. At 53 minutes, it’s the rare audiobook that leaves you wanting *more*—a testament to how engaging the performance is. That said, this isn’t flawless. A few poems (*"The Friend"*) lean a touch too sentimental for my taste, and Dennis’s upper-crust British accent might feel overly mannered to some listeners. The production, while clean, is minimalist—no sound effects or music—which could make it harder for very young kids to stay hooked without visuals. But these are quibbles. The real triumph is how Milne’s wit shines through: *"The Old Sailor"* had me laughing out loud at its absurdity, and *"Us Two"* is a masterpiece of understated warmth. If you’re a parent tired of grating sing-song narration, or an adult who misses the cleverness of *Winnie-the-Pooh*, this is a gem. Just don’t be surprised if you find yourself quoting *"But now I am six"* for days afterward.