FROM THE PUBLISHER

On a day trip to the seaside, Mom and Dad settle down in their deck chairs to snooze the day away, while for Shirley, it’s a chance to set sail for uncharted seas. “Come away from the water, Shirley,” caution her parents. But Shirley has already set out on an adventure, where she encounters danger, pirates, and buried treasure! John Burningham’s brilliant juxtaposition of both sides of the story will have children and parents laughing aloud.

For more than four decades, John Burningham has written one award–winning book after another. With their luminous illustrations, gently ironic text, and their genius in capturing the nuances of everyday life from a child’s perspective, they are relished by children (and grownups) the world over. Whether his theme is imaginary friends or picky eaters, fitting in or the triumph of the underdog, Burningham always recognizes that particular wisdom exclusive to children (and so elusive to adults), making his books instantly appealing to young readers. The author of more than 30 books, Burningham has won awards on both sides of the Atlantic, including the Kate Greenaway Medal (twice), the Kurt Maschler Award, the New York Times Best Illustrated Book (three times), and the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award. In addition, his books have appeared on the national television series Reading Rainbow and, year after year, are on school, library, and booksellers’ recommended reading lists. Now newly republished, the books presented here are among the classics of children’s literature.