Mr. Gumpy's Outing [Paperback]

John Burningham (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Mr. Gumpy lives by a river. One sunny day he decides to take a ride in his small boat. It's such a perfect idea that soon Mr. Gumpy has company: first some children, then a rabbit, a cat, a dog, a pig, a few chickens, and a sheep. Will there be room for them all on Mr. Gumpy's small boat? The highly patterned text builds to a climax both expected and hilarious.

A School Library Journal Best of the Best
Winner of the 1972 Boston Globe - Horn Book Award for Picture Books
A 1971 New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Chidren's Book of the Year
An ALA Notable Book
Winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

One fine morning Mr. Gumpy decides it's a perfect day for an outing in his little boat. Apparently, plenty of others think so, too. First some children ask to join him, then a rabbit, a cat, a dog, a pig, a sheep... Soon, Mr. Gumpy's boat is precariously full, and there's nowhere for anyone else to go--but overboard! This mild mariner takes everything in stride, though, and his guests are soon bellying up to a nice tea.

John Burningham earned the Kate Greenaway Medal, an ALA Notable Children's Book award, and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Mr. Gumpy's Outing, and it's no wonder. This gifted and highly original author-illustrator creates a vision of glorious summer with deeply textured, sometimes only suggested, drawings. His tentatively questioning animals are ready to step right out of the pages and quietly join the delighted reader. And the simple, repetitive dialogue will lull the listener as long as it takes the characters to reach the boat's maximum capacity. Even then, there's no big splash--just an understated, Burningham-esque "and into the water they fell." Young readers will never tire of this gentle, comforting storybook. (Ages 2 to 6) --Emilie Coulter --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From Publishers Weekly

Despite Mr. Gumpy's warnings to the multitudinous animals and children on his barge, the outing turns soggy when the boat capsizes. Ages 2-6.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); First Edition edition (April 15, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080503854X
• ISBN-13: 978-0805038545
• Product Dimensions: 18 x 18 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #136,264 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Toddlers love the sequencing and the pictures, May 8, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Mr. Gumpy's Outing (Turtleback)

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.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pip pip!, April 7, 2004

By 

E. R. Bird "Ramseelbird" (Manhattan, NY) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mr. Gumpy's Outing Board Book (Board book)

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).

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fine Book About a Fine Day, May 26, 2001

By 

Ann Azuma (Kobe, Hyogo-ken Japan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mr. Gumpy's Outing (Hardcover)

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.