John Burningham is one of the most prestigious and well-loved illustrators working in the children's book field today. Trained at the Central School of Art, his first picture book, Borka was published in 1963. He has won the Kate Greenaway Award twice for Borka and Mr Gumpy's Outing, and has enjoyed a distinguished career spanning over 45 years.
Burningham (Courtney, 1994, etc.) adds a winner to the rest of his collection of light gems. Steven's mother sends him to the store to buy groceries, but on the way back he is accosted by a series of animals, each with a demand for a goodie. Steven's wit gets him out of each scrape, but he has to sacrifice an item every time, e.g., he throws a doughnut through a gap in a fence and dares the pig that's been threatening him to try to squeeze through and an elephant is conned into sticking its trunk through a mail slot. In addition to its entertainment value, the story becomes a counting exercise as readers keep track of the disappearing groceries. The ending is abrupt, but the trip is worthwhile, marked by sure pacing, quirky humor, and an airy style of illustration that belies its sophistication. (Kirkus Reviews)