Description

pp. 224, colour illustrations of the art works, foreword by Maurice Sendak, SIGNED on a bookiplate on the front free endpaper by Bermiongham. “The British author and illustrator has garnered an international reputation for combining imaginative, offbeat illustrations with highly funny, original stories for children. In this oversize, lavishly illustrated volume, Burningham relates his life story from his nonconformist schooling and his early meanderings around the world to his various artistic ventures, picture books being only one of his endeavors. (He was commissioned to design three full-size railroad cars for a Japanese company.) Large images from his picture books, sometimes filling an entire spread, as well as early sketches, photographs, and miscellaneous drawings are interspersed with Burningham’s pithy comments about his theories of design. Fascinating backstory remarks reveal the inspiration for some of his stories. For example, he based Mr. Gumpy’s Outing on his 1934 Austin Seven motorcar, defends his depiction of nonchalant parents in Come Away from the Water, Shirley, and elaborates on his work in illustrating Kenneth Grahame’s Wind in the Willows. Students of children’s literature will be intrigued by Maurice Sendak’s short preface and by the six-page opening commentary by children’s literature scholar Brian Alderson. A fascinating and insightful treat for Burningham aficionados.”