John Burningham – författare

Simp is a small, fat, ugly dog. Nobody loves her and she hasn't got a home, so she sets out in search of a friend and finds a family -and some hidden talents that make her rather special...

John Burningham brings us this poetic tale about a special friendship between a lonely girl and her secret friend, Aldo. With Aldo around, sunshine and laughter fill the little girl's life and she forgets her everyday fears.

Would you rather drink snail squash or eat mashed worms? Help a witch make stew? Tickle a monkey? Or maybe - if you could really be anyone or do anything in the world - would you rather just be . . . you?With plenty of scenarios to choose from, every reading experience is different - creating a classic book that children will enjoy again and again!John Burningham is a bestselling author and illustrator whose books have been delighting families for over 40 years."The language of children is Burningham's." - TES"He is one of the best writers in the business." - Financial Times

A classic story celebrating the power of babies... and avocados!The Hargraves family want their new baby to grow up big and strong. But the puny mite will hardly eat a thing... until Mrs Hargraves finds an avocado in the fruit bowl and the baby gobbles it up. Soon, the baby gets incredible strength, and the strangest things start to happen!This classic, heartwarming story from the bestselling author and illustrator John Burningham has been delighting families for over 40 years.“Amusing for adults, impressive for toddlers, good for greengrocers” The Observer“John Burningham is one of the most outstanding author-illustrators of children’s books today . . .” Twentieth-Century Children’s WritersJohn Burningham is the much-loved creator of Mr Gumpy's Outing and Would You Rather.

Once upon a time there were two geese called Mr and Mrs Plumpster. Each Spring they returned to the marshes of their ancestors, and Mrs Plumpster laid her eggs. Soon six fine young Plumpsters hatched: Archie, Freda, Jennifer, Oswald, Timothy and Borka. But Borka was different. Borka had no feathers and could not fly. When winter came the other geese flew off in search of warmer climates, leaving Borka all alone. But her adventure was only just beginning . . .

One day Mr Gumpy went out on his boat."May we come with you?" said the children. "Yes," said Mr Gumpy, "if you don't squabble."When Mr Gumpy goes on a boat trip, the children, the rabbit, the cat and the pig want to come too! But as more and more friends join, the boat starts to rock... will Mr Gumpy manage to keep his boat afloat?This classic story from bestselling creator John Burningham has been delighting families for generations. More stories from John Burningham:Avocado BabyWould You RatherMr Gumpy's Motor CarMr Gumpy's Rhino

Mr Gumpy has decided to go for a ride in his motor car. It's a nice day and the sun is shining, so off he goes. But he only gets as far as the lane before the children, the rabbit, the cat, the dog, the pig, the sheep, the chickens, the calf and the goat ask if they can come along too. As the motor car and its passengers make their way across the field, the weather begins to turn and the rain is soon pouring down. The tyres cannot grip the muddy ground, so Mr Gumpy asks for volunteers to push the car. But everyone has an excuse, until it gets so bad that they all have to get out and help. Eventually, the sun shines once more as they drive across the bridge - and there's time for a swim on the way home.

Granpa nurses his granddaughter's dolls, mistakes her strawberry-flavoured pretend ice-cream for chocolate, takes her tobogganing in the snow, and falls in with her imaginary plans to captain a ship to Africa, like all good Granpa's should. It is a friendship that children who read this book will long remember.

Georgie has got a new bed, but it's not like other beds. For each night, Georgie says the magic word and it whisks him away on a fantastic adventure. He loves his bed, but one day he and his family go on holiday, and when they come back, Granny has a big surprise for Georgie ...

Edwardo is an ordinary boy, so sometimes he can be a bit grubby or clumsy, a bit cruel or noisy or rude. The more that he is criticised, the worse he becomes, until one day they call him 'The Horriblest Boy in the Whole Wide World'. Just then, Edwardo's luck begins to change, and a series of chance events reveal that really he is a lovely boy, and has been all along.

When the children bring Courtney home he's just a loveable scruffy old dog. But the-mongrel-that-nobody-wants has the most amazing talents. He can cook! He can juggle! He can even play the violin! Then one day Courtney the wonder dog packs up his trunk and leaves home - but the children find out his helping paw is not far away...

Every day, John Patrick sets off along the road to school, and although he hurries, strange and improbable happenings repeatedly make him late. To make things worse, his teacher never believes his story.

A little boy sets off on a round-the-world night train to dreamland with only his toy dog for company. But soon all sorts of endangered animals are asking if they can jump up and join them on their journey...

Steven is sent out for groceries on to the mean street of the city with only a shopping basket for protection. There are several shady characters about who are offering to lighten the load of the basket by helping themselves to his provisions! Stephen's having none of it and with the help of some of the city's less attractive sights he outsmarts all of them and makes it home in time for tea. With the pictures telling as much of the story as the text, children and adults alike will appreciate the humour and observations from this well known children's author.

On a day trip to the seaside Mum and Dad settle down in their deckchairs to snooze the day away while for Shirley it is a chance to set sail for uncharted seas, adventure and buried treasure. But not before her Mum has warned her off the dangers of tar, stray dogs and cold water. . . . With the alternative pictures giving both sides of the story, children and adults alike will appreciate the humour and observations from this well known children's author.

Brought to you by Puffin.A brand new audio collection featuring ten of John Burningham's classic stories. Read by Alexander Armstrong.Celebrate the power of babies (and avocados!) with Avocado Baby, and join Borka the goose on her adventures, amongst so much more in these beloved stories.This collection includes: 'Would You Rather', 'Oi Get Off Our Train', 'Motor Miles', 'The Shopping Basket', 'Borka', 'Husherbye', 'Courtney', 'Avocado Baby', 'Aldo' and 'More Would You Rather'. (c) 1963, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1989, 1991, 1994, 2000, 2016, 2018 John Burningham (P) 2025 Penguin Audio.

Beautifully moving through landscapes, showing the changing weather and nature, Seasons is a joyful celebration of the world we live in, and of the artistry of John Burningham.With atmospheric and detailed illustrations to entertain for hours, this evocative journey through the seasons will delight children and adults alike.John Burningham wrote over sixty books in his lifetime, including; Avocado Baby, Borka, Husherbye and Airmiles – he often collaborated with his wife and fellow illustrator, Helen Oxenbury and provided the illustrations for Ian Fleming's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. He was a two time Kate Greenaway Medal winner.

Ageing is that part of the future that we try to keep in the future. And 'nobody likes to get old...that doesn't mean to say you have to be an old fart sitting in the pub talking about what happened in the 1960s' Mick Jagger. John Burningham has collected fine examples of the wisdom and wit that comes with age from those in the know, woven with a rich selection of quotes and fifty poignant drawings by Burningham himself.

In John Burningham's enchanting and truthful compendium of childhood, the well known and the unknown contribute funny, moving, magical and occasionally dark childhood memories. From Michael Palin's memory of seaside holidays with his dad and Seamus Heaney's evocation of a crashed Cadbury's chocolate van ('a trail of silver papers up the road') to the institutional upbringing of the mixed-race child of a black GI in the 1950s and a typical rural childhood in the Scottish highlands, it is full of evocative memories. And woven into the mix is a rich selection of quotations and fifty more of John Burningham's witty and poignant drawings.

A new edition of the classic board book beautifully reissued - celebrating the power of babies... and avocados!The Hargraves are a weak and puny family. When a new baby arrives, they’re willing to try anything to make it grow big and strong. Even avocado . . .“Amusing for adults, impressive for toddlers, good for greengrocers” The Observer“John Burningham is one of the most outstanding author-illustrators of children’s books today . . .” Twentieth-Century Children’s WritersJohn Burningham is the much-loved creator of Mr Gumpy's Outing and Would You Rather.

Ageing is that part of the future that we try to keep in the future. And ''nobody likes to get old ... that doesn''t mean to say you have to be an old fart sitting in the pub talking about what happened in the 1960s'' Mick Jagger. John Burningham has collected fine examples of the wisdom and wit that comes with age from those in the know, woven with a rich selection of quotes and fifty poignant drawings by Burningham himself.

Edwardo is an ordinary boy, so sometimes he can be a bit grubby or clumsy, a bit cruel or noisy or rude. The more that he is criticised, the worse he becomes, until one day they call him 'The Horriblest Boy in the Whole Wide World'. Just then, Edwardo's luck begins to change, and a series of chance events reveal that really he is a lovely boy, and has been all along.

Once upon a time there were two geese called Mr and Mrs Plumpster. Each Spring they returned to the marshes of their ancestors, and Mrs Plumpster laid her eggs. Soon six fine young Plumpsters hatched: Archie, Freda, Jennifer, Oswald, Timothy and Borka. But Borka was different. Borka had no feathers and could not fly. When winter came the other geese flew off in search of warmer climates, leaving Borka all alone. But her adventure was only just beginning . . .

Mr Gumpy has decided to go for a ride in his motor car. It's a nice day and the sun is shining, so off he goes. But he only gets as far as the lane before the children, the rabbit, the cat, the dog, the pig, the sheep, the chickens, the calf and the goat ask if they can come along too. As the motor car and its passengers make their way across the field, the weather begins to turn and the rain is soon pouring down. The tyres cannot grip the muddy ground, so Mr Gumpy asks for volunteers to push the car. But everyone has an excuse, until it gets so bad that they all have to get out and help. Eventually, the sun shines once more as they drive across the bridge - and there's time for a swim on the way home.

One day Boy and Girl go out for a picnic. They meet all sorts of creatures along the way – some come with them and some chase them, but whatever happens, today will be a day for Adventure!

Hare, Hippopotamus and Elephant live together, but not happily, for Hippopotamus and Elephant are forever teasing poor Hare. One day, Hare decides to teach his friends a lesson, and so the great tug of war begins ...

In the house there lives a family: a mum, a dad, a girl and a boy. But they are not alone; a secret mouse family is living there too, who only come out when everyone else is asleep.One day they are spotted and the mouse catcher is called ... Will they escape in time?A story of home and hope from picture-book genius, John Burningham.

Would you rather have breakfast with bears, lunch with a lion or dinner with ducks?Would you like to fly with the pelicans or swim with the fish?Ask – and answer – these questions and many more in this funny, imaginative game of a book, perfect for fans of You Choose!John Burningham is a bestselling creator who has been delighting families with his imaginative books for generations. More books by John Burningham:Avocado BabyWould You RatherMr Gumpy's Outing