Motor Miles
No. of pages 32
Published: 2017
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This book has been graded for interest at 0-5 years.
There are 32 pages in this book.
This is a picture book. A picture book uses pictures and text to tell the story. The number of words varies from zero ('wordless') to around 1k over 32 pages. Picture books are typically aimed at young readers (age 3-6) but can also be aimed at older children (7+).
This book was published in 2017 by Penguin Random House Children's UK .
John Burningham (1936-2019) studied illustration and graphic design at the Central School of Art, graduating with distinction in 1959. Many illustration commissions followed including iconic posters for London Transport, before the publication of Borka: the Adventures of a Goose with No Feathers, Johns first book for children (Cape, 1963) which won the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal for illustration and heralded the beginning of an extraordinary career. John Burningham has since written and illustrated over thirty picture books, that have been translated and distributed all over the world. These feature his classic and much loved childrens books including Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, by Ian Fleming (Jonathan Cape, 1964); Mr Gumpys Outing (Jonathan Cape, 1970) also awarded the Kate Greenaway Medal; Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne (Jonathan Cape, 1972); The Shopping Basket (Random House, 1980); The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame (Penguin/Puffin, 1983); Granpa (Jonathan Cape, 1984) later made into an animated film and Oi! Get off our Train (Jonathan Cape, 1989) and various books for adults England (Jonathan Cape, 1992); France (Jonathan Cape, 1998); The Time of Your Life (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2002) and When We Were Young (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2004). Tug of War was republished in 2012, and a special edition of Borka, celebrating 50 years in print, was published in June 2013. Picnic appeared in the autumn of 2013 and The Way to the Zoo was published in the UK in 2014. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is celebrating its 50th year in print with a limited edition in hardback to be published in 2015.
Animals in literature
Dogs in literature
Nature in literature
Cars And Trucks in literature
Friendship in literature
"John Burningham, who has brought us so many memorable picture-book characters since Borka the goose with no feathers arrived in 1963, now introduces Miles, who is "a very difficult dog". Characteristically for Burningham - and this is an important lesson for children - misbehaviour does not mean forfeiting affection. Instead, Alice Trudge and her son Norman, who own Miles, find what he really likes to do, which is to go out in the car. Taking him daily is time-consuming, so a neighbour builds him his own car and Miles learns to drive. He takes Norman to school, and the two have joyous secret outings. With his wavering, fragmented line and beautiful washes of colour, Burningham expresses character and comedy, and depicts landscapes through the seasons that are magical and seductive. Everything about this picture book suggests freedom, in the style and the story. The tale is simple but encompasses kindness to animals, neighbourliness, the advantages of being practical and handy, the rewards of diligently learning a skill, a love of the outdoors, the pleasure of companionship, following your own inclinations and knowing left from right. There is a fun punchline too. The book might look sketchy, but it is just right." -- Nicolette Jones * Sunday Times *
"October 2016 Book of the Month There's a perfect simplicity to this book, the work of a picture book genius. Miles is a difficult dog, won't come when called, doesn't like walks or other dogs, barks too much. The only thing he does like, in fact, is going out in the car. Fortunately, the family's neighbour realises that what Miles needs is a car of his own, and offers to make him one. John Burningham's illustrations, simultaneously comic and serious, match his deadpan text beautifully; Miles and his young owner Norman are wonderfully realised characters; the colours glow: quite simply wonderful." -- Andrea Reece, Lovereading4Kids * http://www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/book/13204/Motor-Miles-by-John-Burningham.html *