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John Burningham

John Burningham

John Burningham studied illustration and graphic design at the Central School of Art, graduating with distinction in 1959. Many illustration commissions followed, including iconic posters for London Transport, before the publication of Borka: the Adventures of a Goose with No Feathers, John’s first book for children. It won the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal for illustration and heralded the beginning of an extraordinary career spanning 50 years.

John Burningham has since written and illustrated over 30 picture books, which have been translated and distributed all over the world. These feature his classic and much-loved children’s books, including Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by Ian Fleming; Mr Gumpy’s Outing, also awarded the Kate Greenaway Medal; Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne; The Shopping Basket; The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame; Granpa, later made into an animated film; Oi! Get off our Train; and various books for adults.

John is married to the illustrator, Helen Oxenbury. They have three children, three grandchildren and a dog named Miles. They live in London.

Books

  • Avocado Baby

    Avocado Baby

    Author: John Burningham
    Publisher: Red Fox Picture Books
    Interest age: 3-7
    Reading age: 5+

    Mr and Mrs Hargreaves' new baby is the fussy kind and doesn't seem to want to eat anything. Until he eats avocadoes – and gets bigger and stronger than anyone could have guessed. Avocado Baby is a total joy, full of surreal, off-kilter humour.

  • Borka

    Borka

    Author: John Burnigham
    Publisher: Red Fox
    Interest age: 3+
    Reading age: 6+

    Borka is a goose born without feathers and when she can't join the other geese in their flight South, she goes on her own adventure

  • Come Away from the Water, Shirley

    Come Away from the Water, Shirley

    Author: John Burningham
    Publisher: Red Fox
    Interest age: 4-7
    Reading age: 5+

    John Burningham’s simple yet sophisticated account of a trip to the seaside is both a masterly drawing of grumpy Mum and Dad and a vibrant depiction of Shirley’s magical inner world. Fantastic.

  • Granpa

    Granpa

    Author: John Burningham
    Publisher: Random House
    Interest age: 3-8
    Reading age: 4+

    A sensitive and moving exploration of the relationship between a young girl and her grandfather.

  • Husherbye

    Husherbye

    Author: John Burningham
    Publisher: Red Fox
    Interest age: 1-4
    Reading age: 5-7

    This soft, shushed delight of a bedtime book is perfect for getting little ones to sleep. John Burningham’s lilting text has a rolling rhythm and gentle assonance that carries the listener into a dream while listening. Husherbye, everyone; husherbye.

     

  • Oi! Get Off Our Train

    Oi! Get Off Our Train

    Author: John Burningham
    Publisher: Red Fox
    Interest age: 3+
    Reading age: 5+

    As a small boy drifts off to sleep he dreams that he is taking a journey around the world in his model train.

  • Picnic

    Picnic

    Author: John Burningham
    Publisher: Red Fox Picture Books
    Interest age: 2-5
    Reading age: 5+

    The deceptive simplicity of both text and illustrations will draw youngsters to the interactive elements in this picture book and provides an early opportunity to attempt independent reading.

  • The Way to the Zoo

    The Way to the Zoo

    Author: John Burningham
    Publisher: Red Fox
    Interest age: 3-6
    Reading age: 5+

    Sylvie notices a door in the wall of her bedroom that leads to a zoo. Even more unexpectedly, the animals want to come back to Sylvie’s room with her. This bewitching and yet simple imaginative story taps into the dreamlike thoughts of children.

  • There's Going to be a Baby

    There's Going to be a Baby

    Author: John Burningham Illustrator: Helen Oxenbury
    Publisher: Walker Books
    Interest age: 2+
    Reading age: 6+

    A mother tells her little boy that ‘there’s going to be a baby’, but the little boy doesn’t like the sound of this – he doesn’t think they really need the new baby…

  • Would You Rather…

    Would You Rather…

    Author: John Burningham
    Publisher: Red Fox
    Interest age: 3-6
    Reading age: 5-7

    A classic for children, Would You Rather... presents an alternative to a traditional story by imagining a mixture of fantastical and real-life choices. It's great for building confidence with little ones about making their own choices for their own reasons. 

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