John Burningham (1936–2019)

Sometimes I love John Burningham and sometimes I really, really don't. This latest book, however, takes me back to the magic of his earlier books, especially Mr. Gumpy. It perfectly captures the magic of imagination and childhood.

One night Sylvie imagines there's a door in the wall. When she checks the next evening, she finds the door is really there. She opens it, goes through the passageway she discovers and finds a heavy door that leads to....the zoo! However, it's getting late. Sylvie show more has to go back to bed and, naturally, she asks if anyone would like to go with her. The story progresses through her nightly visitors, some of whom make better roommates than others. But what will happen when Sylvie leaves the door open one morning before leaving for school?

With some of Burningham's recent books, his art seems to have moved farther and farther away from the strictly representational. In this book, he returns to the simpler, clearer illustration style of his earlier works. Sylvie is a thoughtful little girl in a school uniform or pajamas. The animals have Burningham's distinct elongated, sketchy style, but are still clearly identifiable. Sylvia stands alone, a simple figure in white space, as the animals enter her world, finally exploding in a chaotic scene that ends with a mischievous punch line.

Verdict: This is a little long for storytime, and the more subtle humor may not capture the interest of younger children, but if you have an older audience it will be perfect. It would also make a great read-aloud to an imaginative child, or anyone who likes animals. Recommended.

ISBN: 9780763673178; Published 2014 by Candlewick; Borrowed from another library in my consortion; Added to the library's backlist show less

If you’ve ever given children clear guidelines for success and then watched them ignore those guidelines and end in a mess…you might resonate with this book! Mr. Gumpy allows the children, the cow, the dog, the sheep, the goat, etc. onto his boat as long as they understand they may not squabble and tease and the bleat and trample. Inevitably, squabbling and teasing and bleating and trampling ensure! I love how this book explores cause and effect and encourages children to start show more foreseeing consequences, cleary and gently. Mr. Gumpy calmly handles the overturning of the boat and after they’re home and dry, kindly invites them to try again another day. show less

If you’ve ever given children clear guidelines for success and then watched them ignore those guidelines and end in a mess…you might resonate with this book! Mr. Gumpy allows the children, the cow, the dog, the sheep, the goat, etc. onto his boat as long as they understand they may not squabble and tease and the bleat and trample. Inevitably, squabbling and teasing and bleating and trampling ensure! I love how this book explores cause and effect and encourages children to start show more foreseeing consequences, cleary and gently. Mr. Gumpy calmly handles the overturning of the boat and after they’re home and dry, kindly invites them to try again another day. show less

Marie-Elaine wonders what her cat Malcolm gets up to at night in this picture-book from British author/artist John Burningham, and gets the answer to her question when she catches him sneaking out in a party costume. She and her neighbor, Norman Kowalski, convince Malcolm to allow them to accompany him to the rooftop cat party her is attending, and the trio have some exciting adventures getting there - sneaking past dogs, climbing fire-escapes. The party itself is great fun, and the children show more get to meet the Queen of the Cats, before returning home just before dawn...

The fourth picture-book I have read from Burningham, It's a Secret! addresses that age-old question - what do our cats do, when we're not around? - in an entertaining, magical way. I appreciated the matter-of-fact enchantment of the story, the way that Marie-Elaine shrinks to Malcolm's size, for instance, without this needing any great commentary by characters or narrator. I also appreciated the artwork, which was done in a childlike style that somehow works quite well with the text. I wouldn't describe this as a personal favorite, despite my fondness for picture-books featuring cats, but it is certainly one I enjoyed, and would recommend. show less