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Oi Get Off Our Train
A little boy sets off on a round-the-world night train to dreamland with only his toy dog for company. But soon all sorts of endangered animals are asking if they can jump up and join them on their journey. . .Please ask if you need a specific version. The data provided here may not be correct. With buying and not asking you are accepting the book as is.
48 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
4 people are currently reading
202 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
March 2, 2022
A very moving story about a young boy on a nighttime adventure who rescues endangered animals. We enjoyed the twist, the reader thinks it's a dream sequel or imaginary play but the next day the animals are roaming about the boys house.
Parents might like to read through this first, some children might find the descriptions of what is happening to these endangered animals too much and I think children can be burdened too much with the environmental disasters that are adults doing but I'm glad to see a children's book with a kind environmental message.
Read on open library.
Parents might like to read through this first, some children might find the descriptions of what is happening to these endangered animals too much and I think children can be burdened too much with the environmental disasters that are adults doing but I'm glad to see a children's book with a kind environmental message.
Read on open library.
November 27, 2020
Yes, gather all those animals and have a nice bath, kid. Lovely story. But I wish the illustrations were better and colourful.
May 3, 2018
My son has curiously become rather attached to this and we read it most nights. A dreamy nod to Noah's Ark, highlighting animals under threat.
October 25, 2020
The simplicity of this book is what makes it so enjoyable.
Lovely illustrations and a wonderful way of bringing up endangered species and the causes.
Lovely illustrations and a wonderful way of bringing up endangered species and the causes.
June 11, 2019
A young boy enjoys playing with his train set but as it gets late his mother sends him to bed and takes him his doggy pyjama case to keep him company.
The boy dreams of being a train driver, assisted by his pet pyjama case dog who has come to life, and they enjoy their journey and when it looks as though it is going to be foggy, the boy says that they can play ghosts. But the fog doesn't last long enough so they steam on.
As they go along they encounter a variety of animals, all of whom, for very good reasons, want to get on the train but initially the boy's answer is 'Oi! Get off our train' to each of them as they appear. But the animals each give a very good reason for wanting to be on the train, for instance the first of them, an elephant, says, 'Someone is coming to cut off my tusks, and soon there will be none of us left.' The boy relents and allows them all onto the train.
With a train full of animals, the journey continues until the boy realises that he has to get home for, as he says, 'I have to get to school in the morning.' And they return and he continues his then dreamless sleep!
Beautifully illustrated it is a lovely book with good messages about the animals, just what youngsters should be aware of.
The boy dreams of being a train driver, assisted by his pet pyjama case dog who has come to life, and they enjoy their journey and when it looks as though it is going to be foggy, the boy says that they can play ghosts. But the fog doesn't last long enough so they steam on.
As they go along they encounter a variety of animals, all of whom, for very good reasons, want to get on the train but initially the boy's answer is 'Oi! Get off our train' to each of them as they appear. But the animals each give a very good reason for wanting to be on the train, for instance the first of them, an elephant, says, 'Someone is coming to cut off my tusks, and soon there will be none of us left.' The boy relents and allows them all onto the train.
With a train full of animals, the journey continues until the boy realises that he has to get home for, as he says, 'I have to get to school in the morning.' And they return and he continues his then dreamless sleep!
Beautifully illustrated it is a lovely book with good messages about the animals, just what youngsters should be aware of.
March 10, 2010
Oh, I just loved this. It turned to be about something even better than I’d anticipated, and there’s a wonderful twist ending I did not expect at all.
I love trains. By the time I was eleven, I’d been on 2 ships, I plane, but multiple train rides, including 9 times on the California Zephyr, between the San Francisco Bay Area and Chicago. So, I really enjoyed the part about the train, including the mesmerizing illustrations.
But. this book is actually about endangered animal species, and why they are endangered: humans. It’s done very well, seriously but with some fun and whimsy too.
It’s mostly about a boy’s dream, but that surprise ending is a hoot.
I love trains. By the time I was eleven, I’d been on 2 ships, I plane, but multiple train rides, including 9 times on the California Zephyr, between the San Francisco Bay Area and Chicago. So, I really enjoyed the part about the train, including the mesmerizing illustrations.
But. this book is actually about endangered animal species, and why they are endangered: humans. It’s done very well, seriously but with some fun and whimsy too.
It’s mostly about a boy’s dream, but that surprise ending is a hoot.
October 17, 2020
Such a great read! This book beautifully introduces children to the reality that many animal species around the world are becoming endangered. As the main character, a young boy travels on his toy train with his toy dog around the world, they have different encounters with a variety of animals who wish to take refuge in the train as the place they were before are no longer safe for them. This book alone opens the doors to many meaningful teaching and learning opportunities as children can learn about species in science as well as endangerment and conservation. Children could also write their own stories, substituting the train as something else and explore other themes that are important to them by incorporating that into their own stories!
One book, many uses!
One book, many uses!
October 11, 2017
I love the interplay between childish talk "Oi, get off our train," with the more serious issue of preserving our planet in order for those creatures who climb aboard to have a future. JB dedicates the book to somebody who tried to protect the Brazilian rainforest.
January 25, 2019
Huh? This book was weeeeird. The illustrations were gorgeous but the storyline was made up of animals getting on the imaginary train and then plaintively stating their imminent extinction. I’m 100% for saving the polar bears and raising awareness of these issues with children but this was a strange way to do it. Even John Paul raises his eyebrow at the approach. Buzzkill.
January 14, 2014
Brilliant book! Good for shared reading (EYFS and KS1) and early readers.
The story can be used to introduce children to the ideas of the environment, endangered animals and the problems they face.
The stroy also lends itself very well to role play and disucssion of characters.
The story can be used to introduce children to the ideas of the environment, endangered animals and the problems they face.
The stroy also lends itself very well to role play and disucssion of characters.
Read
March 6, 2020I never thought I'd see a combination of Farewell to Shady Glade and Snowpiercer....Not that I'm complaining...just ya know, unexpected.
February 3, 2020
This story follows a young boy who is told to clean up and go to bed. Rather than doing so, he decides to enter an adventure of riding on his train, picking up animals along the way. On his journey, an elephant jumps on board. He tells the elephant to get off the train, but the elephant begs him to let him stay due to a human trying to take his tusks. Next, we see a sea lion hop on the train. The boy asks the sea lion to leave as well, but the sea lion explains that he cannot return home. His home is too dirty and the humans are catching all of his fish, so he has nothing to eat. The boy allows him to stay on the train as well. A heron is now found on the train. The heron tells the boy that he cannot leave the train because his marsh is being drained, and he cannot live on dry land. A tiger follows suit and hops on the train as well. The boy allows the tiger to stay aboard the train because the tiger cannot stay in his home due to all of the trees getting cut down in his forest. Lastly, a polar bear climbs onto the train. The boy tells the polar bear to get off, but the polar cannot go home either. He needs to escape the human who is trying to take his fur to make a coat. Once all of the animals are on board, the boy returns home in order to go to school in the morning.
This book is a great way to teach students about the environment. We can use the experiences these animals have to show them that they need to take care of animals and the world in order to protect them from extinction. This can also be a great book to introduce fictional narratives. Students love to write fiction stories. A teacher can use this book to model using toys, such as a train, to write a fictional story.
This book is a great way to teach students about the environment. We can use the experiences these animals have to show them that they need to take care of animals and the world in order to protect them from extinction. This can also be a great book to introduce fictional narratives. Students love to write fiction stories. A teacher can use this book to model using toys, such as a train, to write a fictional story.
October 21, 2019
I really like this book because it explores why different animals are becoming endangered.
January 23, 2021
3,5; the illustrations are to die for. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eu3yc...
September 20, 2022
The book was kind of cute, and introduces kids to endangered animals. The real reason I liked the book was being able to shout “Hey, get off our train!” and making the kids laugh as I read it to them in my library.
September 16, 2011
Oi! Get off our train
John Burningham
This book had me at Oi! The story is making statements about the plight of endangered animals and the treatment, pollution of the environment (Planet Earth), so loads of opportunities to link in with other topics. There is a distinct pattern to the story layout which will help developing readers, as well as the repeated catch phrase from the book’s title. All the separate segments are cleverly interlinked, but at the same time providing convenient places to stop and pick it up another time, allowing the teacher to spread the reading over several days. The pictures are basic or you could even say childlike, which could well inspire confidence for children to attempt illustrate their own stories. I think there is also a little darkness to the pictures, which is suited to the underlying tone of the book.
I’m not too sure of the ending, is it a bit silly, maybe it’s because I’m a bit of an old fogey, I’m sure children will love it. Overall, there is lots and lots to stimulate a child’s imagination in this book.
John Burningham
This book had me at Oi! The story is making statements about the plight of endangered animals and the treatment, pollution of the environment (Planet Earth), so loads of opportunities to link in with other topics. There is a distinct pattern to the story layout which will help developing readers, as well as the repeated catch phrase from the book’s title. All the separate segments are cleverly interlinked, but at the same time providing convenient places to stop and pick it up another time, allowing the teacher to spread the reading over several days. The pictures are basic or you could even say childlike, which could well inspire confidence for children to attempt illustrate their own stories. I think there is also a little darkness to the pictures, which is suited to the underlying tone of the book.
I’m not too sure of the ending, is it a bit silly, maybe it’s because I’m a bit of an old fogey, I’m sure children will love it. Overall, there is lots and lots to stimulate a child’s imagination in this book.
December 11, 2017
I understand that the author is trying to raise awareness about environmental change and how animals are affected, but the text felt so forced and made me roll my eyes. In the end, I think this story will make most kids feel anxious or bored.
October 25, 2009
introduces the idea of extinction to young children...interesting illustrations. Grif liked it for the trains and the animals.
April 22, 2016
I always enjoy Burningham's illustrations, but I felt the message was a little heavy handed here.
January 1, 2020
Bought this for my son when he was small. Locomotive enthusiast connected to animal activism involving stewardship of the earth was exactly the kind of reading we got excited about book 📖.
Years later, read this to my students. Sometimes the after school kids who were a little older, too. Between ages four and 10 couldn’t have enjoyed this theme more 🥳.
Upon reading reviews in the lower star ⭐️ ratings decided to respond to one person. Thought I’d share the comment here to encourage seeing this gem outside the box of criticism. Into a perspective of what’s possible for the theme.
Teachers and parents can get a lot of traction from this topic via creatively extending the concept of being kind to our planet. If the reader does so blandly with criticism for the publication what do you suppose the children will feel about the topic? 🥺
Below are a few examples playfully shared to a one star reviewer who made negative comments insisting the kids didn’t like it ⤵️
“When the story is playfully read; Emphasis on the shout with a hand fist pumping in the air all together; Involving the children in predicting; adding a unit on endangered species; including children in picking an animal that’s endangered and studying it while creating solutions to the problems of their plight... and DRAWING their own animal, PLUS including the song Habitat on the guitar ... the children LOVE the theme and might just shout “Hey, get off our book” 😁”
✅Literacy is an expression of creativity moving toward ideas all ages can benefit from. Children are only as encouraged and excited as we are about the books we pick to expand their young minds to considering so many possibilities. Whether assisting our planet to understanding our every day feelings.
If you’re short ideas, try Pinterest or google. Literacy is fun and mental 😊
Years later, read this to my students. Sometimes the after school kids who were a little older, too. Between ages four and 10 couldn’t have enjoyed this theme more 🥳.
Upon reading reviews in the lower star ⭐️ ratings decided to respond to one person. Thought I’d share the comment here to encourage seeing this gem outside the box of criticism. Into a perspective of what’s possible for the theme.
Teachers and parents can get a lot of traction from this topic via creatively extending the concept of being kind to our planet. If the reader does so blandly with criticism for the publication what do you suppose the children will feel about the topic? 🥺
Below are a few examples playfully shared to a one star reviewer who made negative comments insisting the kids didn’t like it ⤵️
“When the story is playfully read; Emphasis on the shout with a hand fist pumping in the air all together; Involving the children in predicting; adding a unit on endangered species; including children in picking an animal that’s endangered and studying it while creating solutions to the problems of their plight... and DRAWING their own animal, PLUS including the song Habitat on the guitar ... the children LOVE the theme and might just shout “Hey, get off our book” 😁”
✅Literacy is an expression of creativity moving toward ideas all ages can benefit from. Children are only as encouraged and excited as we are about the books we pick to expand their young minds to considering so many possibilities. Whether assisting our planet to understanding our every day feelings.
If you’re short ideas, try Pinterest or google. Literacy is fun and mental 😊
May 8, 2025
When I read this book, I immediately thought of another book by this author about a man named Mr. Gumpy who took all kinds of people and animals for a ride. Here we have the same premise, but with so much more meaning.
In this particular book we see the child playing with trains and then falling asleep. In the child's dreams we go on a journey which involves all kinds of animals who want to get on the train - and their really sad reasons for doing so.
This is a hard-hitting book which I would read with older children, especially as they start learning about environmentalism. Do read through it first though, as some of these concepts can be very upsetting. You know best when your child is ready to hear about these things.
This is an excellent introduction to what happens when we ignore the problems around us - and how much more powerful we are when we step in to do something. Each animal in the story contributes so much to the world - what a beautiful thought to carry with you as you read.
Finally, the punch line at the end? Let's us know that perhaps the story is grounded in a little bit more than dreams.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would have loved to share it with my kids when they were growing up. This is an excellent example of how to do a message right in a children's picture book.
In this particular book we see the child playing with trains and then falling asleep. In the child's dreams we go on a journey which involves all kinds of animals who want to get on the train - and their really sad reasons for doing so.
This is a hard-hitting book which I would read with older children, especially as they start learning about environmentalism. Do read through it first though, as some of these concepts can be very upsetting. You know best when your child is ready to hear about these things.
This is an excellent introduction to what happens when we ignore the problems around us - and how much more powerful we are when we step in to do something. Each animal in the story contributes so much to the world - what a beautiful thought to carry with you as you read.
Finally, the punch line at the end? Let's us know that perhaps the story is grounded in a little bit more than dreams.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would have loved to share it with my kids when they were growing up. This is an excellent example of how to do a message right in a children's picture book.
April 27, 2020
This book is suitable for children in Reception-Year 2. When a little boy goes to sleep, the toy train in his bedroom comes alive, piloted by a miniature version of the boy. On the journey, a variety of animals ask to get on the train – each one is initially refused, but they all have a reason to get on, so they’re allowed. The ‘hidden’ themes of the book are climate change, pollution, and human activities destroying the plants – the elephant wants to get on because someone is coming to cut off his tusks, while the tiger’s habitat is being destroyed. At the end of the book, the little boy wakes up. The reader can pause at this point, and ask the class: do they think it was real, or all a dream? It then transpires that, according to the boy’s mother, the house is overrun with animals… so perhaps it was real after all.
This book has beautiful illustrations which are ripe for emulation, from watercolour to pencil line drawings. It can also inspire writing journeys (where might the train go to next?) and/or imagination. The core theme is definitely about animals and the destruction of habitats though, so it would lend itself to either a discussion or Science topic about this matter.
This book has beautiful illustrations which are ripe for emulation, from watercolour to pencil line drawings. It can also inspire writing journeys (where might the train go to next?) and/or imagination. The core theme is definitely about animals and the destruction of habitats though, so it would lend itself to either a discussion or Science topic about this matter.
April 15, 2018
I used this book with a Year 1 class as our topic was trains. There were some really powerful environmental issues within the story with the animals being endangered and the children used speaking and listening tasks to think about these issues. They were able to connect with the emotions some of the animals were feeling. We used the book to explore our favourite toys, dreams and role play. The children enjoyed pretending to be on the train and used improvisation to decide whether they would let the animals on and why they would want to get on if they were the animals. I liked how the story had a twist at the end making the children question whether it was real or all a dream. Most of the children in my class thought it had really happened and this made for a really interesting discussion. It was a really useful book to pick apart and use to discuss some serious ideas. We enjoyed it and it is very good to use for all years in Primary as you could adapt your lessons to their age and understanding. Beautiful pictures throughout!
September 23, 2018
Oi! Get Off Our Train is about a little boy and his toy dog as they go on an imaginary adventure on a train. Along the way the meet lots of different animals who want to get on board the train. They explain that their homes are being destroyed by people, so they can no longer live there so the boy and the dog let them ride along until they must go home.
It is a great book for introducing themes such as: habitat, animals, extinction and the environment to young children. This book relies heavily on pictures to tell the story and does not have much text, which may help children who need help with the comprehension of books. The words that are used are simple and repetitive so are not too challenging for a younger age group.
I found this book funny and informative however, it does not have the most interesting storyline as it is quite a short, simple book.
It is a great book for introducing themes such as: habitat, animals, extinction and the environment to young children. This book relies heavily on pictures to tell the story and does not have much text, which may help children who need help with the comprehension of books. The words that are used are simple and repetitive so are not too challenging for a younger age group.
I found this book funny and informative however, it does not have the most interesting storyline as it is quite a short, simple book.
January 24, 2020
A book with the potential for a lot of work to be based around it. Discusses some very important global issues, in a way that children can enjoy and understand. Plan being made for a weeks worth of cross-curricular work using this book with a year 1 class. Ties in very well to a lot of geography issues, human destruction of our planet and the animals that live within it. Planning a science lesson around the best fabric for umbrellas, like the umbrella's used in the book. An art lesson in which each child will design a section of the train like the one in the book, that will be put all together to make a long train designed by the whole class. A lot of cross-curricular potential!
February 20, 2018
This is a very clever book about a boy riding a train where along the way various animals wish to get on, to escape their personal danger, with subtle messages that some young readers may miss or not understand their meaning. For example the elephant says "Someone is coming to cut off my tusks, and soon there will be none of us left." This is effective as not an in your face 'humans are terrible' but could allow a child to realise this is not right - animals don't deserve to be treated that way and understand ways in which this could be improved.
February 16, 2019
This book is great for introducing children to the environment and the risks that some animals face. However, reading it again I realised how unsettling the message can be and how strong some of the description is. I agree it is important children know about these challenges, but how comfortable I would feel reading this again now I know the meaning behind it? I'm not sure. I do know it is a well loved book by a few children and some didn't seem to see the serious message it was giving, and did enjoy the animals being told "Oi! Get Off Our Train."
September 30, 2020
The best John Burningham I've read so far. A little girl playing with her train set just before bed enters an adventure in her dreams, taking her toy dog on a long train journey. They encounter new animal friends along the way who tell them why they need to get on the train (all environmental reasons e.g. the forests are being cut down). The girl shows compassion to them and lets them come aboard. A fun, dream-like picture book to tickle children's imagination at bed-time and beyond! Great themes of friendship, play and letting your imagination go wild.
October 21, 2020
I loved this fun book about the fantasy of an imaginative boy dreaming about being on a train with his toy dog for company. One by one different animals appear, pleading to be let onto the train with them. KS1 children would love the rhythm and repetition, joining in shouting 'Oi, get off our train!'.
I liked how the book covers the current issue of animal cruelty and climate change, it would spark some big conversations in the classroom about the polar ice caps melting etc., making this the perfect book to inspire term of work.
I liked how the book covers the current issue of animal cruelty and climate change, it would spark some big conversations in the classroom about the polar ice caps melting etc., making this the perfect book to inspire term of work.
August 6, 2025
"Hey! Get Off Our Train" tells the story of a boy who, on a dream train journey with his dog, encounters various endangered animals seeking refuge from habitat loss and other threats. The boy initially tells them to get off, but after hearing their reasons, he invites them aboard, highlighting the importance of conservation and environmental awareness.
Lesson Ideas are for children to explore the different continents and habitats represented in the book, using maps and other resources. Build student vocabulary by introducing and discussing vocabulary related to the book, such as "endangered," "habitat," "conservation," and "pollution".
Lesson Ideas are for children to explore the different continents and habitats represented in the book, using maps and other resources. Build student vocabulary by introducing and discussing vocabulary related to the book, such as "endangered," "habitat," "conservation," and "pollution".
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews