John Burningham: Behind the Scenes - Softcover

"Burningham is admired as a fearless original whose wit and sense of fun should be a part of every infancy. Burningham's books work not only because of their witty line and strong sense of atmosphere but also because he has perfect recall of a child's sense of boundless possibility. Jonathan Cape's appreciation of Burningham's work will be appreciated in its turn by adults." (Amanda Craig The Times)

"John Burningham's books always hit the mark. He's a fabulously funny and inventive illustrator who also writes well; quite a rare combination. This lovely book is a retrospective of his work ..." (Matthew Perren I-On Glasgow)

"All in all this is a beautiful and informative book, essential for picture book enthusiasts and useful as a reference work for design studies." (The School Librarian)

John Burningham opens with a foreword by John's U.S. contemporary, Maurice Sendak, the creator of Where the Wild Things Are. This is followed by an appreciation of John's work by the critic Brian Alderson, before John himself goes on in his own words to explore his childhood, his schooling at Summerhill, his beginnings as an illustrator designing posters for London Transport, and then his hugely successful, award-winning and still-ongoing career as a picture book author and illustrator. We see developmental notes for his first picture book, Borka, sketches, and lavish colour illustrations from his backlist of over 40 books. Providing new insights into his work, this is an ideal gift for Burningham fans, and for anyone interested in illustration.