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Books : Children's Books : Ages 3-4 : Authors : Burningham, John
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It seems that John Burningham has never forgotten what makes children tick and this wonderful fantasy with a `green' message is perfect. A little boy goes to bed and dreams of going on an amazing journey with his pyjama case dog on board none other than his own toy train. Inspiringly illustrated, with more than a hint of Turner, the train sets off from the city and passes through all kinds of weather with frequent stops to play ghosts in the fog, swim in the sea, fly kites in the wind, muck about with umbrellas in the rain and more. The fun part is that each time the train stops another endangered animal climbs on board to be met with the inevitable `Oi! Get off our train'. In turn, each animal is allowed to stay, having explained why it must leave its own habitat--the elephant because someone wants to cut off its tusks, the stork because the marshland were it lives is being drained, and so on. When mum comes in to wake up the little boy for school she tells him the house is full of animals. Where can they all have come from?Newcomers to this book will soon get the hang of the repetitive story and will enjoy naming and counting the different animals as they appear. This is a fun book with a serious message. it takes an ideal introduction to green issues for the youngest readers and could act as a starting point for many interesting discussions. That aside, and on a lighter note, show me the child who does not enjoy joining in and shouting out the refrain `Oi! Get off our train'! (Ages 4 and over) --Alison Jardine
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One fine morning Mr. Gumpy decides it's a perfect day for an outing in his little boat. Apparently, plenty of others think so, too. First some children ask to join him, then a rabbit, a cat, a dog, a pig, a sheep ... Soon, Mr. Gumpy's boat is precariously full, and there's nowhere for anyone else to go--but overboard! This mild mariner takes everything in stride, though, and his guests are soon bellying up to a nice tea.John Burningham earned the Kate Greenaway Medal, an ALA Notable Children's Book award, and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Mr. Gumpy's Outing, and it's no wonder. This gifted and highly original author-illustrator creates a vision of glorious summer with deeply textured, sometimes only suggested, drawings. His tentatively questioning animals are ready to step right out of the pages and quietly join the delighted reader. And the simple, repetitive dialogue will lull the listener as long as it takes to reach the boat's maximum capacity. Even then, there's no big splash--just an understated, Burningham-esque "and into the water they fell." Young readers will never tire of this gentle, comforting storybook. (Ages 2 to 6) --Emilie Coulter
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Mr. Gumpy, who charmed us in Mr. Gumpy's Outing, is ready for another day trip--this time in his lovely red car. Once again, a veritable menagerie clamours to be included, and that's fine with amiable Mr. Gumpy: "All right. But it will be a squash." The day progresses nicely--until a dark rain cloud moves in. When the inevitable happens--the car gets stuck--no one is willing to help push."Not me," said the goat. "I'm too old."
"Not me," said the calf. "I'm too young."
"Not me," said the cat. "It would ruin my fur."And the excuses go on. Luckily, in Mr. Gumpy's life, there seems to be a happy ending to every day, and so there is to this day. John Burningham has been creating one award-winning picture book after another for over three decades. This captivating book is no exception. Winner of several awards, including The New York Times Book Review Outstanding Children's Book of 1976, Mr. Gumpy's Motor Car will delight children of all ages in many decades to come. Uniquely appealing illustrations pair with soothing, yet exciting text to build a story young readers (and listeners) will return to time after time. (Ages 2 to 6) --Emilie Coulter
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If ever a book was guaranteed to lead to debate among children it is this one. When the choice is whether you would rather eat spider stew, slug dumplings, mashed worms or drink snail squash there is quite a decision to be made. Would you choose to have a monkey to tickle, a bear to read to, a cat to box with, a dog to skate with, a pig to ride on or a goat to dance with? or would you rather be lost in the fog, at sea, in a desert, in a forest or in a crowd? Or perhaps you just want to sleep in your own bed. Designed for the three to six-year-old age group, children as old as 10 will enjoy joining in when this book is being read to younger siblings--it is hard to resist. Even adults will find themselves stating their preference when it comes to being chased by either a crab, a bull, a lion or wolves, for example. It is an excellent book to share with a small group of children as it will surely lead to a lively discussion. (Ages 3 to 10)--Alison Jardine
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Borka is a bald goose, unlike her brothers and sisters, so her mother,Mrs Plumpster, knits her a woollen jersey which means she is warmer at night but a laughing stock among the other young geese! Poor Borka is overlooked when it is time to fly off for the winter but luckily, seeking shelter, she accidentally stows away on a boat headed for London. Her new friends, Captain McAllister and his crew on the Crombie, find her a home at Kew Gardens and here the geese do not laugh at her. She even makes a special friend, a goose called Ferdinand, who cares for her and teaches her to swim. With a nice personal touch, the story ends by asking the reader to look out, if ever visiting Kew Gardens, for a goose who looks a little different because `it might well be Borka'.Children aged three to seven will love to hear this story again and again and with its echoes of the Ugly Duckling and subtle message of acceptance, they will delight in the happy ending. The illustrations are bright and bold and the impressionist quality of some in particular will make an impact on the young reader - you can almost hear the flapping of wings as the geese set off on their journey and the bleak, drizzly evening when Borka finds herself alone is vividly brought to life. This charming book has long been a childhood favourite, winning the Kate Greenaway Medal in 1964, soon after it was first published. (Ages 3 to 7) --Alison Jardine
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What child could resist Simp, the small, fat ugly little dog who nobody wants? Unable to find a home for her, her owner dumps her near a rubbish tip but even the rats ask her to move on. Simp finally stumbles upon a circus and is taken in by a clown. But the clown has his problems too as his act, firing a rubber ball from a cannon, is becoming boring. The ringmaster gives him one last chance to improve and Simp sees exactly how she can help. She curls up inside the cannon in place of the balland when the cannon is fired `WHOOOSH!' out comes Simp giving the clown quite a surprise and delighting the crowds. Suddenly the clown and Simp are celebrities and Simp has a happy home and someone to love her at last.As ever, John Burningham's attention to detail in the text and dramatic and colourful illustrations create a compelling whole which is doubtless why the book has had so many years' success. Simp will continue to win the hearts of children who will love the story's exciting climax and enjoy the satisfaction of seeing both Simp and her friend the clown helping each other out and Living happily together. (Ages 4 and over) --Alison Jardine
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Grandpa describes the very special relationship between a little girl and her grandfather. Together they share some precious moments and adventures together. The charm of Grandpa is the dialogue of the two characters which is often amusing and insightful. John Burningham cleverly uses colour illustration to depict real life, with contrasting black and white to depict the little girl's imaginative interpretation of grandpa's words.Ages 2-5 years. Victoria MacKenzie END
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Albert and his mum and dad go walking one day in the mountains. Unfortunately, Albert slips and disappears over the edge of a cliff; his parents are very upset. Albert is lucky though--the Cloud Children see his fall and speak the magic words ("They either said, Fumble gralley goggle ho hee", or "Teetum waggle bari se nee", or was it "Gargle giggle fiddle num dee?") that make Albert light enough to float among the clouds, with them. Albert sleeps that night drifting in the sky. The next day, Albert and the Cloud Children have lots of fun: jumping off tall clouds, making as much noise as they can in the thunderstorm, swimming in the rain, painting pictures next to the rainbow and walking on the filmy traces left by passing aircraft. When Albert wants to go home again, the Queen arranges for his cloud to drift near his home, and for him to gently float down--but not before they all have feasted with the Man in the Moon!This fantasy will excite children's imaginations--haven't we all wondered, when we were younger, about what was above the clouds? The Cloud Children are enchanting fairy-like characters and the illustrations are a innovative mix of photographs and drawn illustrations. Highly recommended for children from age 3 to 6. --Alison Jardine
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One fine morning Mr. Gumpy decides it's a perfect day for an outing in his little boat. Apparently, plenty of others think so, too. First some children ask to join him, then a rabbit, a cat, a dog, a pig, a sheep ... Soon, Mr. Gumpy's boat is precariously full, and there's nowhere for anyone else to go--but overboard! This mild mariner takes everything in stride, though, and his guests are soon bellying up to a nice tea.John Burningham earned the Kate Greenaway Medal, an ALA Notable Children's Book award, and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Mr. Gumpy's Outing, and it's no wonder. This gifted and highly original author-illustrator creates a vision of glorious summer with deeply textured, sometimes only suggested, drawings. His tentatively questioning animals are ready to step right out of the pages and quietly join the delighted reader. And the simple, repetitive dialogue will lull the listener as long as it takes to reach the boat's maximum capacity. Even then, there's no big splash--just an understated, Burningham-esque "and into the water they fell." Young readers will never tire of this gentle, comforting storybook. (Ages 2 to 6) --Emilie Coulter
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Whadayamean has a thought-provoking premise: that if all the adults would stop their destructive and greedy behaviour, then the world and its environment could be salvaged. Children are increasingly aware of, and troubled by, environmental issues, and so this is a timely, and powerfully-written, book.The story is set within a religious context. One night, God decides to visit His creation, in the middle of the night, and finds just two children still awake, playing. God tells them that they must come with him to look as His world. God tells them that he is displeased with the way that people have dirtied the waters, fouled the air, destroyed the forests and caused the polar ice-caps to begin to melt. God tells them that they must "go and tell the grown-ups to change the way they are living". "'Grown-ups won't listen to us,' said the little children. 'They will listen if you tell them that I told you to,' said God.'" Hence, the children set off and visit the businessmen, the leaders of the various religions, who are quarrelling amongst themselves, the men of war and, finally, the people of world who have stood by and not acted, to spread this message from God. At first, the people don't listen, but when the children explain that this is God's will, they change their minds and change their ways. The book ends with God returning to the planet, pleased, and with the Earth transformed into the paradise that He intended.
This book has a very direct and strong message which is crafted into a story that pulls no punches. The illustrations are striking, and reflect the tone of the writing- -at first worrying and dark, and later happy and bright. Their style is evocative, sometimes sketch-like and sometimes a mix of photographic backgrounds and painting. This is a book that is serious in tone; it would raise questions, and could be used to stimulate discussion, about the important and very current issue of environmental destruction. It suggests that if people listened to God's word, these problems, and associated ones such as hunger and war, could be solved. (Ages 9 to 14).--Alison Jardine