Courtney

by John Burningham

Courtney is the dog that nobody wants, but the children think he's lovely. When they take him home, their parents are very disappointed—he's just an old mongrel. But Courtney turns out to be a wonder-dog who can cook, juggle, and even play the violin.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

http://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.

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some children beg their parents to get a rescue dog, they finally agree on the condition they choose a good one. Coming back with an old crossbreed that nobody wants the parents are annoyed. Courtney disappears in the night and returns the next morning with a trunk.

There is no end to Courtney's talents and he becomes part of the family. One day Courtney leaves but he is still keeping an eye out for them and he is there for them when they need him.

For some reason John Burningham seems to portray parents in his stories as quite strict and uncaring, I've often wondered why he did that as from reading about him, it seems he got on well with his parents and they didn't come across that way. I wondered if it was meant to reassure the child reader with parents like the ones in his books that they were not alone?

A wonderful story about how wonderful it is to have a dog as a family member. How much love they give, how much fun they provide and how wonderful they are when things are bad.

[Mylisa Larsen]

Classic Burningham. Slightly wacky, almost ugly but somehow perfect anyway drawings and a dog that plays the violin and entertains the baby while serving perfect meals.

[Hannah]

Courtney is underappreciated. I mean he is a chef, butler, gardener, cleaner, entertainer, musician, AND he saves the baby from a burning house. But the parents have the AUDACITY to say, and i quote, "We told you the dog was no good." 😊 WHAT DO YOU MEAN??? He rescued your BABY from a housefire and feeds you 3 meals a day. Shocking. Characters in picture books have no chill

[Finny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mommy says: Magical tale about a dog.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's another book discovered at the used bookstore where I work from a favorite author. My own children and I loved Burningham's "Mr. Gumpy's Outing" and now here is Courtney, a dog new to the kids in this book that surprises in many ways. He can cook, juggle, and even saves the baby from a fire. He leaves suddenly, but the question remains, is he very far away?

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Courtney’ is about a dog that nobody wants. Even though he is just a ‘mongrel’, he turns out to be a dog who can cook, clean, entertain the baby and save the children’s lives. This story has an inclusive message that makes the reader think about not judging a book by its cover.

[Marilyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mom had a problem with the overbearing, "I-told-you-so" parents in the book.

[Lexy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This family dont deserve this dog the parents are awful!

[Reading For Sanity · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this review and others at https://readingforsanity.blogspot.com...

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, incredible, surprising, sad, endearing! A wonderful book to read to your dog.

[Tina Hoggatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best dog ever.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Burningham is one of my favorite English illustrators for children. However, this title’s storyline is somewhat wacky, but dog lovers will enjoy it.

[Kate Perrin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much. The illustrations are brilliant and made me laugh.

[Renata Ruby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book that I used to read to my play group children in Suffolk. It is a wonderful story it has mystery, pets and people who help us in it. My boyfriend just read it again to our seven year old daughter

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just didn't do anything for me.

[Cws]

JEPI-Bur

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the dog version of Mr Belvedire/Mary Poppins.

[Neda · Rating 5 out of 5]

To me this picturebook is just excellent & moving..

[Bree · Rating 2 out of 5]

Notes:
odd story
dog is human-like then vanishes without explanation
kids drifting away on raft is a bit frightening for sensitive readers

[N · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prachtig kinderboek!