The latest picture book by this celebrated author-illustrator is full of mordant humor and interesting ideas. A British schoolboy is always late and always with a dramatically good excuse: a crocodile seized his satchel and wouldn't let go; he was washed away by a tidal wave. His sneering teacher greets each excuse with a firm, "There are no such things. . ." and devises escalating punishments—until the day when John Patrick arrives on time and the teacher announces, ". . .I am being held up on the roof by a great big hairy gorilla. You are to get me down at once," and J.P.N. McH's reply begins, "There are no such things. . ." This story has interesting undercurrents. Each incident is punctuated by the sentence, "John Patrick Norman McHennessy set off along the road to learn," which also concludes the story as he walks away from the school and the teacher (and the gorilla). Also, during those incidents outside the school, the pages are awash with subtly glorious color, while the dialogues with the teacher take place in somber black-and-white barely touched with earth tones. Burningham is saying something very serious about schools and education; beneath the marvelously amusing grotesquerie, there is a thoughtful question: Where do we really learn? And why?
Pub Date: Jan. 1, 1987
ISBN: 0375852204
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Crown
Review Posted Online: April 18, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1987
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift.
A paean to teachers and their surrogates everywhere.
This gentle ode to a teacher’s skill at inspiring, encouraging, and being a role model is spoken, presumably, from a child’s viewpoint. However, the voice could equally be that of an adult, because who can’t look back upon teachers or other early mentors who gave of themselves and offered their pupils so much? Indeed, some of the self-aware, self-assured expressions herein seem perhaps more realistic as uttered from one who’s already grown. Alternatively, readers won’t fail to note that this small book, illustrated with gentle soy-ink drawings and featuring an adult-child bear duo engaged in various sedentary and lively pursuits, could just as easily be about human parent- (or grandparent-) child pairs: some of the softly colored illustrations depict scenarios that are more likely to occur within a home and/or other family-oriented setting. Makes sense: aren’t parents and other close family members children’s first teachers? This duality suggests that the book might be best shared one-on-one between a nostalgic adult and a child who’s developed some self-confidence, having learned a thing or two from a parent, grandparent, older relative, or classroom instructor.
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-943200-08-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Compendium
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
More gift book than storybook, this is a meaningful addition to nursery bookshelves
A young child explores the unlimited potential inherent in all humans.
“Have you ever wondered why you are here?” asks the second-person narration. There is no one like you. Maybe you’re here to make a difference with your uniqueness; maybe you will speak for those who can’t or use your gifts to shine a light into the darkness. The no-frills, unrhymed narrative encourages readers to follow their hearts and tap into their limitless potential to be anything and do anything. The precisely inked and colored artwork plays with perspective from the first double-page spread, in which the child contemplates a mountain (or maybe an iceberg) in their hands. Later, they stand on a ladder to place white spots on tall, red mushrooms. The oversized flora and fauna seem to symbolize the presumptively insurmountable, reinforcing the book’s message that anything is possible. This quiet read, with its sophisticated central question, encourages children to reach for their untapped potential while reminding them it won’t be easy—they will make messes and mistakes—but the magic within can help overcome falls and failures. It’s unlikely that members of the intended audience have begun to wonder about their life’s purpose, but this life-affirming mood piece has honorable intentions. The child, accompanied by an adorable piglet and sporting overalls and a bird-beaked cap made of leaves, presents white.
More gift book than storybook, this is a meaningful addition to nursery bookshelves . (Picture book. 2-8)Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-946873-75-0
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Compendium
Review Posted Online: May 21, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2019
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