Mr. Gumpy's Outing Read Free Books and Download eBooks
Mr. Gumpy's Outing is a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award winner and an American Library Association Notable Children's Book. In England, illustrator John Burningham, with Mr. Gumpy's Outing, became the first artist ever to win England's Kate Greenaway Medal twice. Mr. Gumpy lives by a river. One sunny day he decides to take a ride in his small boat.It is such a perfect idea, for such a perfect summer day, that he soon has company: first the children, then the rabbit, the cat, the dog, the pig, the sheep, the chickens, and still others until-- Mr. Gumpy's outing comes to an inevitable but not unhappy, conclusion."Come for a ride another day," says Mr. Gumpy at the book's end. And young readers will return again and again to this sprightly story with its clever, captivating illustrations that reflect the sunlit quality of a lazy summer afternoon.An ALA Notable Children's BookA New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Children's BookA Child Study Association Children's Book of the YearA Library of Congress Children's Book of the Year
Lexile Measure: 390L (What's this?)
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Square Fish; Reprint edition (March 15, 1990)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0805013156
ISBN-13: 978-0805013153
Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 0.1 x 10 inches
Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #81,370 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #50 in Books > Children's Books > Cars, Trains & Things That Go > Boats & Ships #192 in Books > Children's Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Friendship, Social Skills & School Life > Manners #4562 in Books > Children's Books > Animals
Age Range: 4 and up
Grade Level: Preschool - 3
As the mother of nine children I can assure you that Mr. Gumpy's Outing has prize winning appeal. It was often the first book our children asked for by name. Toddlers love the sequencing of the animals entering the boat. The illustrations are equally fascinating to them. I remember one of my little ones asking me in their tiny voice, "What does squabble mean, Mommy?" Even some early lessons on behavior can be gleaned from this timeless toddler favorite. It should be well worn and resting on every child's bookshelf.
This book falls firmly into a very specific genre of picture book literature. The old, if-one-more-person-gets-into-this-boat/mitten/car/etc.-bad-things-will-happen genre. Jan Brett's "The Mitten" does it. The more recent "One Dog Canoe" does it. But one of the first stories to have done it (and have a moral to boot) is the 1970 story "Mr. Gumpy's Outing".Mr. Gumpy (who is not grumpy in the least) lives on the banks of a river, and owns a boat. As he goes for a boat ride, two children ask to come along. Mr. Gumpy gives them instructions on what not to do, and they join him. Next a bunny comes along. Mr. Gumpy tells it what not to do, and it joins him. As Mr. Gumpy poles his boat down the river, more and more animals join the party, each receiving a stipulation from Mr. Gumpy on what behavior is appropriate. After the boat fills, the animals suddenly ignore Mr. Gumpy's requests and begin to misbehave. As a result, they all topple headlong into the river, retiring to Gumpy's for tea.Originally published in England (and if Mr. Gumpy isn't THE most English picture book gentleman you've seen outside of Paddington Bear himself, I'll eat my hat) the story is incredibly civilized. There's nothing like seeing a sheep delicately sipping from a straw to drill home the essential manners and protocols essential to everyday interactions. The illustrations are especially nice. Mr. Gumpy never looks particularly upset or angry by anything that happens to him. As he poles his boat a black and white pen and ink drawing on the left pages shows the boat and it's inhabitants. On the right page is a colorful drawing of the animal(s) asking to be allowed to join. The book, despite the whole falling into the water bit, is calm and peaceful. Just the kind of fun story you'd expect to be read on a cold rainy day. Highly recommended (especially with crumpets and bit of toast with marmalade).
One fine day, Mr. Gumpy goes punting. One by one, he takes on various passengers who PROMISE to behave, BUT... It is easy to forsee the outcome when a girl, a boy, a cat, a dog, a pig, a sheep, chickens, and assorted others all climb aboard. Told in lilting, repetitive passages that small children often adore, all ends as happily as one can expect on such a balmy afternoon, and with such an amiable host as is Mr. Gumpy. It comes as no surprise that MR GUMPY`S OUTING is a recipient of the Kate Greenaway medal, with the way John Burmingham`s illustrations pleasantly evoke the gentleness of the lazy summer`s day.
This is a thoroughly delightful book. The simple story engages small children, and the illustrations are first-rate. I have read this book countless times to my two pre-schoolers, and have enjoyed the experience very much. This book is an excellent way to get children interested in books. Finally, I recommend the hardback over the paperback because of the higher quality of the illustrations in the hardback.
I must admit that this is one of my all time favorite children's books. To begin with, it is so British that when you read it with your child or grandchild, or any child for that matter, you are tempted to stand up and shout "God Save the Queen." The flavor of the entire book is purely English countryside mellow.Mr. Gumpy decides to go for a boat outing. As he progresses on this wonderful trip he begins taking on passengers who want to join him on his punting trip...who wouldn't? As each passenger joins Mr. Gumpy agree with the stipulation that "Yes, if you don't squabble/Yes, but don't hop about.Now both the adult reader and even the smallest of children know for sure what is going to happen and that is part of the fun of the book. Everyone know that the boat will eventually tip and possibly sink...indeed it does! But not all is lost because Mr. Gumpy and his friends all retire to his home for a nice tea time.The illustrations in this book simply do not get any better. We have a mixture of very detailed paintings of the country side as the punt and the passengers travel down the river. These paintings are mixed with simple line drawings. This creates a stunning visual effect. To be honest, I would not mind any of these illustration framed and hanging in my home.This is the sort of book that can be read over and over again with the little ones and it is like reading a new book each time. Not that it matters all that much to me as I tend to ignore such thing; hey, I like what I like, but this work by author and illustrator John Burningham from 1970 has made just about every list of best children's books both in the U.S. and Europe.This was a library find.Don BlankenshipThe Ozarks
I love all of John Burningham's books. He is an inventive and witty author. This is a favorite from my childhood, and now my son loves it too. I love how even after the boat tips over in the water because all the animals were misbehaving, Mr. Gumpy's response is only that it is "time for tea."
Mr. Gumpy's Outing
