This week on River Reads, Episode 5 - What's Your Point, we focus on the short story collection, “A Gallery of Children," by A. A. Milne, first published in 1925. In a new segment, River Rambles, Wilde ponders what is the point? And where are we going? regarding this weeks collection of stories. A collection that often seems to leave the reader wanting more.  Or at the very least, left grasping to find what is the point the author is trying to make. The River Reads show originally airs on CICK Smithers Community Radio, every Saturday at 10am (PST).

Alan Alexander Milne was a 20th century English playwright and children’s book author. During the period of 1903 to 1925 he penned 18 plays and 3 novels and  In addition to his more popular work Winnie-The-Poah, Milne’s also adapted a novel The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame for theater. The adapted play was named Toad of Toad Hall (1929).

In response to twelve popular Le Mair illustrations, that were commissioned by the Colgate company for a series of magazine advertisements, Milne wrote a tale for each of the watercolor drawings. He described the short stories as "a fanciful elaboration of each picture." A 1976 review described the "plot and even character [as being] incidental to Milne's fond little jibs in these nursery-sized anecdotes of manners."

 Included in this episode are:

1. Barbara’s Birthday. A Gallery of Children. By A.A. Milne. Printed by Stanley Paul (UK) and Philadelphia. David McKay Company. Washington Square. 1925.
2. Poor Anne. A Gallery of Children. By A.A. Milne. Printed by Stanley Paul (UK) and Philadelphia. David McKay Company. Washington Square. 1925.
3. Sand Babies. A Gallery of Children. By A.A. Milne. Printed by Stanley Paul (UK) and Philadelphia. David McKay Company. Washington Square. 1925.
4. The Twins. A Gallery of Children. By A.A. Milne. Printed by Stanley Paul (UK) and Philadelphia. David McKay Company. Washington Square. 1925.
5. The Princess and the Apple-Tree. A Gallery of Children. By A.A. Milne. Printed by Stanley Paul (UK) and Philadelphia. David McKay Company. Washington Square. 1925.
6. Miss Waterlow in Bed. A Gallery of Children. By A.A. Milne. Printed by Stanley Paul (UK) and Philadelphia. David McKay Company. Washington Square. 1925
7. The Magic Hill. A Gallery of Children. By A.A. Milne. Printed by Stanley Paul (UK) and Philadelphia. David McKay Company. Washington Square. 1925.
8. The Three Daughters of M. Dupont. A Gallery of Children. By A.A. Milne. Printed by Stanley Paul (UK) and Philadelphia. David McKay Company. Washington Square. 1925.

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River Reads: Fairytales and Stories
Host, Producer, Composer, Narrator: River Wilde
Cover Art: River Wilde

The River Reads Show - "Not a kids show but not not a kids show"

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