Genre
Picture books for children
Tone
Feel-good
Illustration
Cartoony
Subject
Animals
Boating
Boating accidents

Stories

We have one copy in English and one in French, because this book is too good not to enjoy in both the official languages of Canada. The inevitable denouement when all Mr Gumpy's passengers, although forewarned, behave according to their innate nature and capsize the boat is something that little ones might expect, because similar disasters so often happen to them. But the walk home across the fields followed by a friendly and plentiful meal reassures everyone that one mistake (apiece) doesn't mean that the day is ruined. Forgiveness is a wonderful thing. ( )

Mr Grumpy takes a trip along the river in his boat but his friends wanted to join him. All is going well until the boat tips over and they all fall into the river. They walk back along the fields, have tea and Mr Grumpy invites them to join him again.

When Mr. Gumpy goes out on the river one day, a series of passengers - two children, a rabbit, cat, dog, pig, sheep, some chickens, a calf and a goat - ask to join him on his outing. Our eponymous hero grants each request, with the proviso that each child or animal must behave. Although peaceful at first, Mr. Gumpy's crowded boat eventually overturns when its passengers forget their promise. Despite that fact, Mr. Gumpy invites them on an outing another day...

Originally published in the UK in 1970, Mr. Gumpy's Outing was awarded the Kate Greenaway Medal - named for celebrated illustrator Kate Greenaway, this medal is Britain's preeminent award for illustrations in a children's book - and is considered a modern classic in the picture-book category. Being more familiar with Burningham's more recent titles, I was surprised and charmed to find that the artwork here is a little bolder, with more use of color than in books like Picnic or Motor Miles. Overall I liked the effect of the illustrations, and also appreciated the use of language here, as Mr. Gumpy issues his strictures to his passengers. The children must not squabble, the pig must not muck about, the sheep must not bleat, and so on, introducing younger children to vocabulary that might otherwise be unfamiliar to them. Recommended to anyone looking for engaging stories for the picture-book set! ( )