Winnie the Pooh-Inspired Book Drive Gives Back to Kids in Need

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS, Sept. 27, 2022 – Once Upon A Time Books in Springdale and Walton Arts Center have partnered for a book drive ahead of the four performances of Disney’s Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation in Baum Walker Hall on Oct. 21 and 22. New or gently used books for ages 8 to 17 collected during the drive will be donated to the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter. 

Each Winnie the Pooh adaptation, including the new musical stage adaptation, is based on the bedtime stories written in the early 1900s by A. A. Milne for his son Christopher Robin Milne. The iconic characters in the stories teach important life lessons about friendship. 

“A little consideration, a little thought for others, makes all the difference,” says Eeyore. Donating books to the drive can give parents and grandparents the opportunity to teach their children about sharing and caring for others before they come to see the show together.  

Bring gently used books or purchase a new book for 30% off to donate to the drive when you visit Once Upon A Time Books at 462 E. Henri De Tonti Blvd. in Springdale. You can also enter to win tickets to Disney’s Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation when you drop off your books at the store.  

You may also bring your book donations to Walton Arts Center when you come see Disney’s Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation at 7 pm on Friday, Oct. 21, or at 11 am, 2 or 7 pm on Saturday, Oct. 22, and leave them in the designated donation boxes in the lobby.  

In a new story from the Hundred Acre Wood, this fresh stage adaptation is told with impressive life-size puppetry, telling exciting new stories featuring characters that have played iconic roles in the lives of children for generations. Accompanying the magical, modern narrative is an original score from Nate Edmondson, which features some of the songs written for the animated feature from The Sherman Brothers', including “Winnie the Pooh,” “The Blustery Day,” “The Wonderful Thing About Tigger’s,” “Whoop-De-Dooper Bounce,” and A.A. Milne's “The More It Snows.” 

Tickets are $20-45 and can be purchased in-person at the Walton Arts Center Box Office weekdays 10 am until 2 pm, by calling 479.443.5600 weekdays 10 am until 5 pm or by visiting waltonartscenter.org. 

Support for Walton Arts Center is provided, in part, by the Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Walton Arts Center is Arkansas’ largest and busiest performing arts presenter. Each year more than 215,000 people from Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma and beyond attend more than 300 public events at Walton Arts Center, including performances, rehearsals, community gatherings, receptions, weddings and more. Approximately 35,000 students and teachers participate annually in arts learning programs at Walton Arts Center, and almost 250 volunteers donate 28,000 hours of time each year to its operations. Walton Arts Center presents entertainers and artists from around the world including Broadway musicals, renowned dance companies, international artists, up-and-coming jazz musicians and more. As a non-profit organization, Walton Arts Center enjoys the generous support of public sector funding, corporate sponsorship and private donors, allowing audience members to enjoy world-class performances at a great price. To learn more about Walton Arts Center, visit www.waltonartscenter.org. 

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