John Burningham
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LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT BOOKS John Burningham John Burningham: Behind the Scenes Burningham reflects on his childhood, Double act schooling, early days as an illustrator and career as a picture book author and illustrator. We profile BookTrust Lifetime Achievement Award winners John Burningham and Helen Oxenbury, Avocado Baby A puny baby discovers avocados… and with tributes from judges and peers strange things start to happen. Oi! Get Off Our Train Endangered animals wo giants of children’s lit- enjoyed by their family.’ Oxenbury seek refuge with a little boy on his round- erature, John Burningham said, ‘It’s particularly lovely as we the-world train journey to Dreamland. and Helen Oxenbury, were have been awarded this honour this month presented with jointly.’ Would You Rather Would you rather drink snail squash or the BookTrust Lifetime eat mashed worms? Or would you rather just be… you? Achievement Award – the JOHN BURNINGHAM: Tfirst time that a double award has BIOGRAPHY Come Away From The Water, Shirley Mum and Dad settle been made. John Burningham studied illustration down to snooze on the beach, while Shirley prepares to set The couple – who are husband and and graphic design at the Central sail for adventure, but not before warnings from mum. wife – have written and illustrated School of Art and Design, graduating some of most celebrated and popular with distinction in 1959. Many Time to get out of the bath, Shirley It’s picture books of the past 50-plus illustration commissions followed time to get out of the bath, but Shirley years. Oxenbury became a household including posters for London Trans- has floated away to a watery fantasy name after illustrating We’re Going on port. Then, in 1963, his first children’s land beyond the plughole. a Bear Hunt, while Burningham is book, Borka: The Adventures of a best known within the early years Goose with No Feathers, won the Kate Trubloff: The mouse who wanted sector for his Mr Gumpy stories. Greenaway Medal, heralding the to play the balalaika Trubloff runs away with gypsies who Set up in 2015, the award cele - beginning of an extraordinary career. promise to teach him to play the balalaika. But it’s his gift for brates the body of work of an author Since then he has written and illus- music that saves his poor family from an awful fate. or illustrator who has made an out- trated more than 30 picture books standing contribution to children's that have been translated and distrib- Cannonball Simp An unloved and homeless dog finds literature. Previous winners have uted all over the world. These include hidden talents and happiness as a circus performer. been Shirley Hughes, Judith Kerr and Humbert: Mr Firkin and the Lord Raymond Briggs. Mayor of London; Cannonball Simp; Harquin: The fox who went down to Accepting the awards, Burning- and Avocado Baby (see panel, left). the valley Harquin ignores his parents’ ham said, ‘I’m so very flattered when Mr Gumpy’s Outing won Burning- warnings and heads for the valley, where he I hear people now say they love my ham his second Kate Greenaway is spotted by the gamekeeper… books and that something I did Medal, while Granpa, an exceptional 50-plus years ago still works and is and moving tale of friendship and Courtney When a family takes in the- mongrel-that-nobody-wants, they discover he can cook, juggle and play the violin! Then one day, he packs his trunk… Where’s Julius? Julius is too busy to come to meals – he’s riding camels, cooling hippos or digging to the other side of the world. Husherbye A lullaby in which kittens to bears get ready for bed and fall fast asleep. Motor Miles Miles is a very difficult dog until he is given his very own motor car. Inspired by the family pet! Harvey Slumfenburger’s Christmas Present How the last present in Santa’s sack makes it to Harvey. Mouse House A family are not alone; a mouse family has moved in. Time to call the mouse-catcher? Cloudland When Albert falls off a cliff, he is rescued by Cloud Children. He plays with them in the clouds and rain, until he decides it’s time to go home. John Burningham and Helen Oxenbury with the BookTrust award judges 32 NURSERY WORLD 19 FEBRUARY-4 MARCH 2018 WWW.NURSERYWORLD.CO.UK LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT BOOKS Helen Oxenbury Tom and Pippo Make a Mess Just one of Double act the many adventures of toddler Tom and his stuffed monkey Pippo. The stories were later bereavement, won The New York made into a French animated series. Times Best Illustrated Award and Kurt Maschler Award, and was Tickle, Tickle Part of later made into an animated film. Oxenbury’s First Book In 2012, Burningham was nom- for Babies series, Tickle, Tickle won the inated for a Hans Christian Andersen illustrating children’s books in 1964 1999 BookTrust Early Years Award. Award for Illustration. He has also and has since published books across Oxenbury’s other baby books series illustrated Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by age groups, from classic board books include I See, I Touch and I Can. Ian Fleming and published several for babies to collections of nursery adult books. rhymes for all ages. Her work also The Helen Oxenbury Nursery Rhyme Book and The Helen He and Oxenbury have worked on includes collaborations with a range Oxenbury Nursery Story Book Beautifully illustrated only one book together – There’s of authors, including Julia Donaldson collections of familiar rhymes and traditional tales. Going To Be A Baby, published in and Peter Bently (see right). 2010. In it, Burningham captures the Oxenbury is a two-time winner The Birthday Party A little girl doesn’t excitement, curiosity and trepidation and four-time runner-up for the Kate want to hand over her present to John, of a young boy who is awaiting the Greenaway Medal. She first won in while he doesn’t want to give her one of arrival of a baby sibling, while Oxen- 1969, when the two books cited were his party balloons. Part of Oxenbury’s First bury portrays beautifully the child’s Edward Lear’s The Quangle Wangle’s Storybooks series, which includes Our Dog, loving interactions with his mother, Hat and The Dragon of an Ordinary Eating Out and The Dancing Class. along with the fanciful future scenar- Family by Margaret Mahy. Her illus- ios that he imagines for the new trated edition of Alice’s Adventures in Helen Oxenbury’s ABC of Things and Helen Oxenbury’s member of the family. Wonderland won in 1999 and in 2007 Numbers of Things Bold and inventive books teaching the was named one of the top-10 winning alphabet and numbers from one to infinity. TRIBUTES works of all time. Judith Kerr, picture book Oxenbury has also won two Kurt IN PARTNERSHIP author and illustrator Maschler Awards – for So Much by Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox Babies ‘I was inspired to become an illustrator Trish Cooke and Alice’s Adventures in may live in different places, but each has 10 fingers and 10 by just one book – John Burningham’s Wonderland – and three Nestlé toes to tickle. wonderfully funny and wonderfully Smarties Book Prizes: for We’re Going drawn Humbert, the working horse on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen, The Growing Story by Ruth Krauss A little that got to pull the Lord Mayor’s coach. Farmer Duck by Martin Waddell and boy sees plants growing in the fields and More than 50 years later it is still one of So Much! by Trish Cooke. wonders if he and his puppy will grow too. the best picture books ever produced for children.’ TRIBUTES When Charley Met Grandpa by Amy Hest Lauren Child, children’s Henry is excited about seeing his grandpa but Lauren Child, children’s laureate and award judge apprehensive about what he will think of his new pet dog. laureate and award judge ‘There are many who can draw well, ‘No-one creates a more perfect picture but there are few who can draw as King Jack and The Dragon by Peter Bently Bedtime looms book than John Burningham. His writ- elegantly and bring such warmth to her but King Jack and his knights are still protecting their castle ing is touching, funny and profound; characters as Helen Oxenbury. She is a fort from terrible beasts. his illustrations are works of art.’ sublime illustrator, with a gift for drawing worlds one can believe in.’ The Giant Jumperee by Julia Donaldson Anthony Browne, former Rabbit hears a loud voice from inside his laureate and award judge Nicolette Jones, writer, critic burrow announcing it’s the Jumperee. But ‘Like Sendak, John Burningham is a and award judge who is this Jumperee? picture book maker who can write ‘Helen Oxenbury has been a ground- just as well as he can draw – a rare breaking illustrator throughout her The Animal House by Ivor Cutler Zoo animals help combination.’ career. Her baby books set a trend and build temporary shelter for a family in need. helped to persuade parents that you are HELEN OXENBURY: never too young for books. Her images Time to Dream by Timothy Knapman Little brother Jack BIOGRAPHY reflected the diversity of our society at a is certain that the Wicked Wolf is making the strange noise Helen Oxenbury was born in time when few did.’ coming from the wood, and big sister Alice thinks it’s time to Ipswich and attended the Ipswich find out if he is right.