A Honey of a Party

Come listen to stories about Winnie the Pooh,

And celebrate the Central Library’s birthday, too

The party starts this afternoon at 1

So bring the kids along for some family fun

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The rhymes get better at 2 and 4 p.m. in the library’s Maguire Gardens, where British actor Peter Dennis will perform excerpts from his one-man show, “Bother!”--readings of A.A. Milne’s classic tales and poems about a bear, an owl, a donkey, a pig and a small boy.

In honor of the U.K./L.A. Festival, library officials decided to tie their celebration of the first anniversary of the restored Central Library to a focus on Winnie the Pooh.

The library, which closed in 1986 after suffering damage from two arson fires, reopened Oct. 3, 1993, with a gala event that drew 80,000 people. This year, officials preferred a scaled-down celebration.

“We wanted it to be a family event,” said library spokesman Robert G. Reagan.

Lemonade and slices of birthday cake will be served throughout the day. Music and folk tale readings will also be featured.

Central Library birthday celebration, 1 to 5 p.m. today; free, (213) 228-7000.