PJ’s and Pooh Bear were in full supply Tuesday as the Fort Dale Academy kindergartner’s celebrated the cuddly, yellow bear’s birthday in high style, highlighted by a cake shaped like the bumbling bear made by Susan Pope.

&uot;This is our second year to do this,&uot; said five-year-old kindergarten teacher Nancy Branum. &uot;It’s just a good day to snuggle up and read, and who doesn’t love Pooh?&uot;

It was evident the teachers loved Pooh too as many donned their own PJ’s and robes and led the youngsters in a rousing chorus of &uot;Happy Birthday&uot; to the loveable bear whose all stuffed with fluff.

&uot;The children just love it,&uot; said Debbie Hollyfield, who teaches K-5. &uot;They have a good time with it and they love listening to the stories.&uot;

Faith Newton, 5, daughter of Bob and Sonya Newton said she likes celebrating Pooh’s birthday because she gets to wear her pajamas to school.

&uot;I like Eyore the best,&uot; she said, clutching a small stuffed Eyore character next to her face. &uot;I like him because he’s all the time slow. I like Pooh Bear, Piglet and Tiger too.&uot;

Betsy Hamm, who is also 5 years old and is the daughter of Jeff and Kelly Hamm, commented on her favorite part of the celebration, which went a long way to quelling the &uot;rumbly in her tumbly.&uot;

&uot;I like it because we get to eat cake,&uot; she said.

Winnie the Pooh and his 100 Acre Woods friends were created in the early 1920’s by noted playwright and author A.A. Milne, when his son, Christopher Robin Milne, took a shine to a Canadian black bear named Winnie at the London Zoo.

On Dec. 24, the first Pooh story was published in the London Evening News. The story was so popular it was broadcast the next day (Christmas Day) by BBC radio.

A.A. Milne lived to be 104 years old, penning two Pooh books; &uot;Winnie the Pooh&uot; in 1926 and &uot;The House on Pooh Corner in 1928.&uot;