John Burningham Quotes

“Don’t stroke the dog, Shirley, you don’t know where he’s been.”

“Your father might have a game with you when he’s had a little rest.”

“We are going to put our chairs up here.”

“Of course it’s far too cold for swimming, Shirley.”

“Careful where you’re throwing those stones. You might hit someone.”

“Mind you don’t get any of that filthy tar on your nice shoes.”

“That’s the third and last time I’m asking you whether you want a drink, Shirley.”

“Good heavens! Just look at the time. We are going to be late if we don’t hurry.”

“You won’t bring any of that smelly seaweed home, will you, Shirley?”

″ ‘Have you a place for me?’ said the sheep. ‘Yes, but don’t keep bleating.’ ”

“Then Mr. Grumpy and the goat and the calf and the chickens and the sheep and the pig and the dog and the cat and the rabbit and the children all swam to the bank and climbed out to dry in the hot sun.”

″ ‘We’ll walk home across the fields,’ said Mr. Grumpy. ‘It’s time for tea.’ ”

″ I’d like a ride,′ said the cat. ‘Very well,’ said Mr. Grumpy. ‘But you’re not to chase the rabbit.’ ”

“For a little while, they all went along happily but then…The goat kicked. The calf trampled. The chickens flapped. The sheep bleated.”

“Mr. Grumpy owned a boat and his house was by a river. ”

“One day Mr. Grumpy went out in his boat. ‘May we come with you?’ said the children. ‘Yes,’ said Mr. Grumpy, ‘if you don’t squabble.’ ”

″ ‘Can you make room for me?’ said the calf. ‘Yes, if you don’t trample about.’ ”

“The pig mucked about. The dog teased the cat. The cat chased the rabbit. The rabbit hopped. The children squabbled. The boat tipped…and into the water they fell.”

″ ‘May I join you, Mr. Grumpy?’ said the goat. ‘Very well, but don’t kick.’ ”

“Nobody noticed that she was missing.”

“But Borka did not go. She could not fly. Instead she went and hid, and watched them leave.”

“One fine spring morning there were six baby Plumpsters in the nest. Mr. Plumpster was delighted, and he invited his friends round to celebrate.”

“Borka had a beak, wings, and webbed feet like all her brothers and sisters, but she did not have any feathers.”

“When she had finished, she called Borka and tried it on her. Borka was delighted, and flapped around with joy, because she had always been chilly at night.”

“Borka explained that she only wanted to stay under cover for the night, so Fowler showed her into a part of the hold where there were some old sacks for her to lie on.”

“Sometimes he hissed even if there was nothing in sight. It made him feel important.”

“A goose on board! She’ll have to work her passage if she is coming with us to London.”

“Borka did try to learn to swim, but whenever she went in to the water, her jersey took such a long time to dry afterwards that she soon gave up.”

“Each year the Plumpsters came back to the marshes and mended their nest. Then Mrs. Plumpster settled down to lay her eggs, and Mr. Plumpster kept guard.”