Tom and Pippo Go for a Walk

Tom and Pippo

by Helen Oxenbury

Tom and his toy monkey, Pippo, go out for a walk and fall into a mud puddle

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Juvenile

16 pages, Board Book

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Married to John Burningham

Born in 1938 and growing up in Ipswich, England, Helen Oxenbury loved nothing more than drawing. As a teenager, she entered art school and basked in the pleasure of drawing, and nothing but drawing, all day. During vacations she helped out at the Ipswich Repertory Theatre workshop, mixing paints for set designers. It was there that she decided her future lay in theater design.

While studying costume design, however, Helen Oxenbury was told by a teacher, "This is hopeless, you know. You ought to go and do illustrations--you're much more interested in the character, and we don't know who's going to play the part!"


But sets and scenery, not books, remained Helen Oxenbury's preoccupation for several more years as she embarked on careers in theater, film, and TV. After marrying John Burningham, another of the world's most eminent children's book illustrators, and giving birth to their first child, at last she turned to illustrating children's books. "When I had babies," Helen Oxenbury says, "I wanted to be home with them and look for something to do there."


Today, Helen Oxenbury is among the most popular and critically acclaimed illustrators of her time. Her numerous books for children include the Greenaway Medal-winning ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND and its companion, ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS, both by Lewis Carroll; Smarties Book Prize-winning FARMER DUCK by Martin Waddell; SO MUCH by Trish Cooke; as well as her classic board books for babies. More recently, she collaborated with author Phyllis Root on the jubilant, no-nonsense tall tale BIG MOMMA MAKES THE WORLD. "As I read Phyllis's text, I imagined Big Momma as part Buddha, part housewife," she says. "It was intimidating to create a whole world, but very enjoyable."


And what does she love most about her work? Thinking up new ideas? Seeing the finished book? Not at all. For Helen, "The best part is when I think I know what I'm doing and I've completed a few drawings. In fact, when I get about a third of the way through, and I feel I'm on my way, then I'm happy. It's like reading a good book--you don't want it to end."


Helen Oxenbury and her husband make their home in London, where the illustrator works in a nearby studio. She is also an avid tennis player.

Reviews

[Shawn Deal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little boy named Tom, goes through his life with his stuffed monkey Pippo by his side. Pippo gives his the courage and support to take on life's little challenges. A wonderful book series

[Saskia Marijke Niehorster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom and Pippo go for a walk is a sweet book about a toddler and his stuffed monkey and the adventures that happen while they are together. It is simple and funny and cute.

My sister Irene has a monkey that looks EXACTLY like Pippo! Since she was a little girl she carried him around. The Monkey's name is Ushi and she nicknamed herself Mooshy. As in this story,both Ushi and Mooshi had a lot of adventures and also, most often, misadventures as well. One cannot be without the other, and to this day my sister has her lovely monkey. Ushi has had several face lifts and limb reconstructions due to the dangerous missions they accomplished together and the pet dogs that accosted them and chased them, etc.

I found this book today when I went to donate some of my already read books to the "Little Free Library" that stands outside someone's home in Prairie Village, Kansas.

I think I will give it to my sister! How she will be happily surprised!

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I ever bought on Amazon. It is charming. Tom's visit to the doctor is also recommended. My daughter says she prefers Hugh and Willy

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved these as a kid and love reading them to my kid now!