Burglar Bill (Picture Puffin) [Paperback]

Burglar Bill is the delightful story of a thief who lives off other people's fortunes, until two major events change his life forever. The first is when he steals a box only to find it contains a baby, and the second is when he, too, is burgled, by Burglar Betty. The improbable union that follows offers a convenient moral that turns both thieves into honest folk who vow to keep on the straight and narrow.

Bright illustrations (if somewhat stereotypical, with Burglars Bill and Betty in stripy shirts, eye masks and carrying swag bags!) cheer up this somewhat serious tale and break up the text for first readers. A lovely story to read together at bedtime. (Ages 4 to 7 years) --Lucie Naylor

Amazon.co.uk Teacher Review

Children need to read at home every day to practise the reading skills that they have been taught. Here are some tips to help make Burglar Bill part of your child's reading routine:

• choose a time when you and your child both want to read, sit somewhere comfortable and quiet.
• before you begin to read, get a "feel" for the book by looking at the cover, front and back and talking about it.
• let your child hold the book and turn the pages. Look at the pictures.
• look for the little details--they help the child to understand what the book is about.
• let your child "read" the book to you by talking about each picture.
• read the book again and again if you both enjoy it.

If used to support learning at home, Burglar Bill can help first readers achieve the targets for Key Stage One English: Reading. --Amanda York

Bill is a benign sort of burglar, stealing only what he uses - a toothbrush here, a can of beans there, the fish and chips and tea he has every night for supper. Then Bill takes home a big brown box with little holes in it, and finds that he's stuck with a baby. But - this being one of those disingenuous British bits of whimsy - that very night Bill is burgled by the baby's mother, Burglar Betty (a red-haired, high-heeled "widow lady"), and before you can say "snitch" the three are a family, with Bill and Betty returning all their loot and Bill going to work in a bakery. With Janet Ahlberg's off-hand visual jokes, it's a mildly amusing diversion of its funny-paper kind. (Kirkus Reviews) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Everything in Burglar Bill's life is stolen, from the toast, marmalade and coffee he has for breakfast to the bed he sleeps in. One night when he is out burgling, he comes across a box with holes in the lid on a doorstep. He picks it up of course and when he gets home he discovers, to his horror, that he has stolen a baby. He and the baby muddle along together until one night he is disturbed by a burglar - Burglar Betty. She is the mother of Burglar Bill's baby. Bill and Betty decide to reform and live honest lives; they return all the stolen goods, get married and live happily ever after!

Who's that creeping down the street?
Who's that climbing up the wall?
Who's that coming through the window?
Who's that? ... It's Burglar Bill.

Janet and Allan Ahlberg created some of the world's most popular picture books, including Each Peach Pear Plum and The Jolly Christmas Postman both winners of Greenaway Medals, and The Baby's Catalogue, inspired by their daughter Jessica. Janet died in 1994 and Allan, a former teacher, now lives in London.