What do you think?
Rate this book
Mr. Gumpy
Mr. Gumpy's Motor Car
When Mr. Gumpy decides to go for a ride in his bright-red car, everyone wants to come along -- a rabbit, a cat, a dog, a sheep, chickens, a calf, a goat, and a boy and girl. "All right," says Mr. Gumpy. "But it will be a squash." So they all squash in and, for a while, chug along happily. Then it starts to rain, and the car becomes stuck in the mud. Who will help Mr. Gumpy push the car out? "Not me," says each passenger. In the end, however, they all have to help, and a wonderful time is had by all.
John Burningham, twice winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal for his outstanding illustrations, has written a simple story of delightfully understated humor and illustrated it in his most enchanting style.
John Burningham, twice winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal for his outstanding illustrations, has written a simple story of delightfully understated humor and illustrated it in his most enchanting style.
32 pages, Library Binding
First published April 5, 1973
10 people are currently reading
242 people want to read
About the author
John Burningham
163 books106 followershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bur...
Married to Helen Oxenbury They have one son and two daughters.
John Burningham was born in 1936 in Farnham, Surrey, and attended the alternative school, Summerhill. In 1954 he spent two years travelling through Italy, Yugoslavia and Israel, working at a variety of jobs.
From 1956-1959, he studied at the Central School of Art, after which he designed posters for London Transport and the British Transport Commission. He also spent a year on an animated puppet film in the Middle East. He then became a writer and illustrator of children's books, his first book, Borka: The Adventures of a Goose With No Feathers (1963) winning the Kate Greenaway Medal in 1963, an achievement he repeated with Mr Gumpy's Outing (1970).
Since then, he has written and illustrated many children's books. He is also a freelance designer of murals, exhibitions models, magazine illustrations and advertisements.
Married to Helen Oxenbury They have one son and two daughters.
John Burningham was born in 1936 in Farnham, Surrey, and attended the alternative school, Summerhill. In 1954 he spent two years travelling through Italy, Yugoslavia and Israel, working at a variety of jobs.
From 1956-1959, he studied at the Central School of Art, after which he designed posters for London Transport and the British Transport Commission. He also spent a year on an animated puppet film in the Middle East. He then became a writer and illustrator of children's books, his first book, Borka: The Adventures of a Goose With No Feathers (1963) winning the Kate Greenaway Medal in 1963, an achievement he repeated with Mr Gumpy's Outing (1970).
Since then, he has written and illustrated many children's books. He is also a freelance designer of murals, exhibitions models, magazine illustrations and advertisements.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
March 2, 2022
An old bedtime favourite. A simple story of a journey with lots of animals joining in the fun. Some lovely illustrations and a happy ending.
December 17, 2022
We loved this old book, found it at our local library. Everyone wants to ride in Mr Gumpy's car, but no one wants to help when it gets stuck in the mud. We loved the excuses... But then the animals all help to get the car home again.
January 14, 2019
I enjoyed this. I picked it up on learning that Burningham had died. This book is timeless. Mr. Gumpy decides to take a ride in his car that is British. Check which side the driver is on. The kids and animals ask if they can't come as well. Mr. Gumpy warns it will be a squash but agrees. Later we come to a part that felt very "Little Red Hen" to me. Mr. Gumpy asks who can volunteer to help push the car up a hill and everyone explains why they cannot do such a task....after getting a free ride too!...Then it starts raining and the car is really stuck in mud as Mr. Gumpy points out "Now we're really stuck" and everyone has to get out after all and push. They get in some swimming to clean off then head for home. Mr. Gumpy invites them to come back sometime for another car ride. Simple which adds to its appeal. It is deceptively simple but very satisfying. Maybe because the problem is so calmly faced and solved. Then they simply went on with their day. No extra drama needed. Of course, the illustrations are what Burningham was known for. Like his story, the illustrations are deceptively simple. Lots of hatch work in them. However, each individual is unique and carefully drawn and attractive. Recommended.
October 13, 2013
Mr Grumpy’s Motor Car tells the story of Mr Grumpy who decides to go out and ride his car. As he sets out he gets various companions joining him. Such as the children, the rabbit, the cat, the dog, the pig, the sheep, the chickens, the calf and the goat. As they set out on their journey they enjoy the scenery and each other’s company. However when disaster strikes, what will they do?
I felt the book had a good overall message the importance of working with one another and helping one another. It shows readers what can happen if you do not work together and what can happen if you do. I would recommend this book to children between the ages of 4 – 6. Mr Grumpy’s Motor Car can be used in the classroom as part of a PSHE lesson teaching children about what it means to be a good friend. Activities can include role play. The class can get into groups of four and act out a scene where someone may encounter a problem and what they could do to be a good friend and what not to do. This shows that they understand the task and that they are fully aware of the social skills and how and what it means to be a good friend.
I felt the book had a good overall message the importance of working with one another and helping one another. It shows readers what can happen if you do not work together and what can happen if you do. I would recommend this book to children between the ages of 4 – 6. Mr Grumpy’s Motor Car can be used in the classroom as part of a PSHE lesson teaching children about what it means to be a good friend. Activities can include role play. The class can get into groups of four and act out a scene where someone may encounter a problem and what they could do to be a good friend and what not to do. This shows that they understand the task and that they are fully aware of the social skills and how and what it means to be a good friend.
October 18, 2017
It reminds me of The little Red Hen, where nobody takes responsibility in producing something, but are quite happy to enjoy the finished product. Nobody wants to help push the car out of the mud, but in the end they do, as they realise that they will get nowhere if they don't. The importance of teamwork! Once they have pushed it out of the mud, the sun starts to shine and they go off for a swim, which seems to act as a metaphor. I have noticed that JB features the same type of house in his books and wondered about the personal significance to him.
February 20, 2016
Mr Grumpy decides to go out for a drive in his red car. As he sets out on his journey he comes across different animals who all decide to join him. They are the Rabbit, the Cat, the Dog, the Pig, the Sheep, the Chickens, the Calf, the Goat and the Children. The story follows them on their journey on a lovely sunny day and how they work together and overcome the problems that they face when the weather takes a turn for the worst.
The book itself is a fantastic book that can be looked at within Early Years , where topics such as the weather and animals can be introduced. Having read this book as part of story time to children in Nursery, and looked at animals and the individual sounds they make, really does make it an interesting book for children to listen to. Maths can also be incorporated through asking simple questions such as which animal is bigger or which animal is smaller?
The book has a very positive message of working together to overcome adversity, and could further be used in Reception and Key Stage One classes through looking at what it means to be a good friend.
The book itself is a fantastic book that can be looked at within Early Years , where topics such as the weather and animals can be introduced. Having read this book as part of story time to children in Nursery, and looked at animals and the individual sounds they make, really does make it an interesting book for children to listen to. Maths can also be incorporated through asking simple questions such as which animal is bigger or which animal is smaller?
The book has a very positive message of working together to overcome adversity, and could further be used in Reception and Key Stage One classes through looking at what it means to be a good friend.
October 23, 2014
This is an entertaining tale that has some similarity to the classic tale of The Little Red Hen, but ends up being a good way to depict the power of teamwork. The narrative is very short and with a big font and big, colorful pictures, this book would be fun to read aloud to a group of younger children.
The illustrations have an interesting mixture of styles, with a lot of distinctive cross-hatching throughout. The characters aren't very detailed, but overall, the pictures complement the narrative nicely. We enjoyed reading this book together.
The illustrations have an interesting mixture of styles, with a lot of distinctive cross-hatching throughout. The characters aren't very detailed, but overall, the pictures complement the narrative nicely. We enjoyed reading this book together.
October 1, 2019
An enjoyable read, more detail than some of John's other work.
March 31, 2018
It’s swell, but it’s no Mr. Gumpy’s Outing.
April 25, 2012
My Gumpy’s Motor is a fantastic book for the EYFS stage children who love the idea of joining the crew on their journey on a beautiful sunny day. The children anticipate what happens as the characters pile in one after the other....the problems they encounter as the weather changes and how they solve it. It is very amusing how all the characters try to get out of helping by saying ‘Not Me’ and putting their reasons or ‘excuses forward!! Finally the car gets stuck completely and the only ways is for everyone to get out.... It is a lovely adventure and introduces many favourite animals and can be a great teaching point for learning about weather, farm animals, working together in a team and many other areas. It combines simple language with a great adventure which children love to hear over and over again.
January 13, 2017
Read at Baby/Toddler Story Time on 5/10/11: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
Read at Pajama Story Time on 1/23/13: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
Read at Drop-In Story Time on 6/14/13: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
Read at Preschool Story Time on 11/30/16: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
Read at Pajama Story Time on 1/23/13: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
Read at Drop-In Story Time on 6/14/13: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
Read at Preschool Story Time on 11/30/16: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
March 29, 2019
I have often used Mr. Gumpy's Outing. It has gone over extremely well in story times and I will have to try this in my Things that Go story time.
November 11, 2010
Kind Mr. Gumpy is at it again, ferrying animals and children around. They act like little brats, but everything is all right in the end!
October 3, 2011
A fun, easy to read story about Mr. Gumpy, the children, and all the animals, as they take a trip in his motor car.
June 20, 2012
If you like this one, you'll probably like Mr. Gumpy's Outing even better.
October 1, 2013
Very lovely book depicting the journey made by Mr Gumpy and his friends. Lovely pictures and can be very useful in Early Years teaching to develop a sense of sequence.
October 5, 2024
Gumpy's Drive by John Burningham is a picture book about Gumpy's joyous adventures with children and animals. First published in 1978, the new edition adds new charm. The story begins with Gumpy getting into his car and going for a drive with children and various animals. Along the way, they encounter fun events and unexpected troubles, and learn the importance of friendship and cooperation.
The appeal of this work lies in Burningham's unique illustrations and simple yet warm storyline. The colorful and lively pictures invite children into the story and capture their imagination. In particular, scenes such as when it starts to rain or the car stops working showed how children enjoy overcoming difficulties.
Throughout the story, Gumpy always maintains a positive attitude and treats children with kindness. His attitude encourages them and teaches them the importance of being cheerful in difficult situations. For example, a small incident that happens during a drive is never described as a big problem, but rather as an opportunity to bond with your peers.
The animals are also very unique, and their reactions and actions add humor to the story. Children's interactions with the animals bring smiles and heartwarming moments. In particular, scenes of the animals enjoying a drive and helping each other in times of trouble naturally convey the importance of cooperation.
This book is not only memorable for children, but also nostalgic and warm for adults. The adventures of Gumpy and his friends have universal themes that everyone can relate to, and are compelling to read again and again. With a memorable message, this book is a must-have.
The appeal of this work lies in Burningham's unique illustrations and simple yet warm storyline. The colorful and lively pictures invite children into the story and capture their imagination. In particular, scenes such as when it starts to rain or the car stops working showed how children enjoy overcoming difficulties.
Throughout the story, Gumpy always maintains a positive attitude and treats children with kindness. His attitude encourages them and teaches them the importance of being cheerful in difficult situations. For example, a small incident that happens during a drive is never described as a big problem, but rather as an opportunity to bond with your peers.
The animals are also very unique, and their reactions and actions add humor to the story. Children's interactions with the animals bring smiles and heartwarming moments. In particular, scenes of the animals enjoying a drive and helping each other in times of trouble naturally convey the importance of cooperation.
This book is not only memorable for children, but also nostalgic and warm for adults. The adventures of Gumpy and his friends have universal themes that everyone can relate to, and are compelling to read again and again. With a memorable message, this book is a must-have.
April 27, 2018
If you like Mr Gumpy's Outing (both 23-month old little-AJ and mummy do!), then you probably will find this book amusing too. The story is fun, happy, and makes us smile. Similar to Mr Gumpy's Outing, there are a lot of animals in the story (calf, dog, cat, sheep, goat, pig, chickens, rabbit) and two children, who all decided to squeeze into a car one day (in the previous book, they squeezed into a boat). I love the storyline, but the illustrations are (unfortunately) not the style that I like, which is really a shame (I would have given this book a 5-star rating without a blink!)
The animals and children all squeezed into Mr Gumpy car one day for a little ride. But soon it started to rain and the car was stuck in the muck. At first, everyone found some excuse not to be the one pushing the car. The calf said it was too young, the sheep was afraid they it might catch a cold, the cat did not want to ruin her fur, the rabbit was not feeling well. But at last, all of them got out to give the car a push. And hooray! The car moved, and everyone went for a swim.
This is a nice story about working together as a group to solve a problem. The texts are nicely written and easy to be followed. I enjoy the story very much, but I find the illustrations a bit dull and messy.
Blog review here: https://storypleasemummy.wordpress.co...
The animals and children all squeezed into Mr Gumpy car one day for a little ride. But soon it started to rain and the car was stuck in the muck. At first, everyone found some excuse not to be the one pushing the car. The calf said it was too young, the sheep was afraid they it might catch a cold, the cat did not want to ruin her fur, the rabbit was not feeling well. But at last, all of them got out to give the car a push. And hooray! The car moved, and everyone went for a swim.
This is a nice story about working together as a group to solve a problem. The texts are nicely written and easy to be followed. I enjoy the story very much, but I find the illustrations a bit dull and messy.
Blog review here: https://storypleasemummy.wordpress.co...
May 8, 2025
This is a much earlier version of a story which found it's footing with "Hey! Get Off Our Train."
The setup for this particular book is simple. Mr. Gumpy has a lovely, old-timey car which he wants to take out for a drive. Everyone (child and animal alike) pile in for a series of adventures, which culminate in deep mud. Everyone working together manages to right things and they're able to carry on in a fun adventure which takes them all kinds of interesting places.
This is a fun story, but the idea never felt quite fully developed. The message is light, the story is an adventure, but I never quite connected fully until I saw another book by the same author (the Train one mentioned above) and saw what could be done with the same idea.
All the same, it's an entertaining read and one I enjoyed taking time with the other day. But do read it with the other book in hand, because I think you'll enjoy them both together so much more.
The setup for this particular book is simple. Mr. Gumpy has a lovely, old-timey car which he wants to take out for a drive. Everyone (child and animal alike) pile in for a series of adventures, which culminate in deep mud. Everyone working together manages to right things and they're able to carry on in a fun adventure which takes them all kinds of interesting places.
This is a fun story, but the idea never felt quite fully developed. The message is light, the story is an adventure, but I never quite connected fully until I saw another book by the same author (the Train one mentioned above) and saw what could be done with the same idea.
All the same, it's an entertaining read and one I enjoyed taking time with the other day. But do read it with the other book in hand, because I think you'll enjoy them both together so much more.
November 16, 2017
Used this one for Five in a Row. In all truthfulness, I think I liked this better than the kids did. And they refused to stop calling him Mr. Grumpy, which made me, well, GRUMPY! Normally, I'm a pretty patient and tolerant person, but I don't deal well with unkind nicknames. So...we ended up having to stop the reading and have a little chat about how it feels when unkind names are used. After that, they were better and I felt better. So I guess that was something. The illustrations were so light that, at times, it was almost hard to see what was going on. And while I thought the story was fine, the kids felt there wasn't enough to it. Overall, it was a fine book, but I don't think it was the best choice to read five times. But at least it was short, so that's something.
October 1, 2018
This book is a favourite of mine to use within the foundation stage. The story has some lovely themes throughout it and Mr Gumpy is a lovely character which is very popular with children. The story is great for shared reading with reception age children especially. However it also leads to a range of other possible learning activities. My favourite activity I have done with a group of children was creating a boat and props before reacting the story with all the children having a turn in the boat. The story. An also be used within circle time, reflecting on rules and behaviour and what happens when we do not follow the rules.
June 1, 2021
Confession: I never would have picked this up had I not known it was written and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury’s husband (one of my favorite children’s book illustrators). The illustrations are actually not impressive at all, but the story is just so charming and fun, that I can’t hold it against the book. It’s about Mr. Gumpy (who is a really sweet guy for a man with a name that is so close to ‘grumpy’) takes a couple of kids and a slew of farm animals on a car ride. They get stuck in the mud, but get out of the sticky situation by working together. Elliot really enjoyed this one
* library book. Read at 20 months
* library book. Read at 20 months
August 23, 2022
I wish I could explain better why the children and I find this and Mr. Gumpy's Outing so charming; they're very simple stories, the illustrations are not gorgeous by any means but I suppose have a simple charm. I like to imagine it's because I read them with a British accent. Or maybe they're just nice, simple, charming stories; well-suited for the 3-5 age group particularly, apparently. That's three to five & thirty-five, ha.
April 5, 2020
My mother would read this and other stories to me and my younger sibling when we were growing up. It still makes me smile and have good thoughts. She recorded a bunch of other stories on a cassette tape for us to listen to as well when she couldn’t. It’s one of the best memories I have of my mom! I intend to do the same for my child when he or she arrives. 💕
January 18, 2021
Published in 1973, Mr. Grumpy's Motor Car hasn't lost an ounce of its charm. It's a cute story about animals out for a ride in Mr. Grumpy's car. Will the weather stay clear? Will everyone help when the car needs a push? Told with wonderful language and lovely, muted illustrations, this little tale of adventure is for all young readers.
October 19, 2022
Mr. Gumpy sets out on another outing, but in a bright red motor car this time. As you would imagine, all the usual culprits want to join in on the fun.
Not as enjoyable as "Mr. Gumpy's Outing" perhaps because of it being with the same characters and a similar story line.
Burningham's illustrations are enchantingly British.
Not as enjoyable as "Mr. Gumpy's Outing" perhaps because of it being with the same characters and a similar story line.
Burningham's illustrations are enchantingly British.
September 13, 2023
From the time I met Mr. Gimpy in Mr. Gumpy’s Outing I loved him and his animal friends. Mr. Gimpy is never grumpy even though in this title his car is stuck in the mud, always a good adventure with Mr. Gumpy.
May 12, 2025
Another cute Mr. Grumpy book. (We prefer to call the main character Mr. GRUMPY.) This time he goes by motor car. I wondered who was driving the car if they all got out and pushed? Same formula story as Mr. Gumpy's outing.
July 14, 2017
I had largely forgotten about Burningham's books, but remember reading an awful lot of them during my childhood! Fun and delightful.
July 29, 2017
This is a similar story to the Little Red Hen. Working together is important. The illustrations are wonderful.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews