Every day, John Patrick sets off along the road to school, and although he hurries, strange and improbable happenings repeatedly make him late. To make things worse, his teacher never believes his story.
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Book Description
"John Patrick Norman McHennessy set off along the road to learn..." but will he ever get there in time?! His teacher is determined to stop his tales, but what happens when the shoe is on the other foot?
About the Author
John Burningham is one of the most prestigious and well-loved illustrators working in the children's book field today. Trained at the Central School of Art, his first picture book, Borka was published in 1963. He has won the Kate Greenaway Award twice for Borka and Mr Gumpy's Outing, and has enjoyed a distinguished career spanning over 45 years.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
By M. J. Lock
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
this is a wonderful product and i would truly recommend this to other people. Wonderful and thank you for a great delivery service!
By Nicola Hardy
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
John Patrick Norman McHennessy sets off along the road to learn but, as the reader is soon to discover, distractions lie along the way. In a somewhat unlikely turn of events, the boy is set upon by a crocodile, and must sacrifice a glove in order to distract the beast. All this makes him rather late for school but his teacher, a character redolent of Montgomery Burns from the Simpsons, becomes enraged at the boy's excuses. The next day, McHennessy meets a lion in the bushes, and is late again. On the third day, he is nearly swept away by a tidal wave, his teacher becoming ever more furious at his elaborate explanations. However, the tables are turned when the teacher finds himself in an impossible situation of his own, and McHennessy (and the reader) may have the last laugh.
As with many of John Burningham's books, the tale of John Patrick Norman McHennessy is eloquently told, and the illustrations are great. The central theme is timeless, although the depiction of a teacher in academical dress, and his threat to give his pupil a beating, are becoming a little dated by today's standards. Being a 'girl who is always late', though, I have a soft spot for this story. And the moral, presented as a Latin epigram at the start of the book ('Ut sementem feceris ita metes', or, 'As you sow, so shall you reap') will resonate for generations to come.
As with many of John Burningham's books, the tale of John Patrick Norman McHennessy is eloquently told, and the illustrations are great. The central theme is timeless, although the depiction of a teacher in academical dress, and his threat to give his pupil a beating, are becoming a little dated by today's standards. Being a 'girl who is always late', though, I have a soft spot for this story. And the moral, presented as a Latin epigram at the start of the book ('Ut sementem feceris ita metes', or, 'As you sow, so shall you reap') will resonate for generations to come.
By M. Johnston
Format:Paperback
I bought this, along with most of the John Burningham books, for my grandson. This is his absolute favourite at the moment. My two sons enjoyed all his books also and they don't seem to have dated at all. It's a favourite bedtime book and is, like all the other books, beautifully illustrated. Highly recommended.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is such a beautiful, clever, insightful, witty book. Every child should own it. it is gentle and wry and I am amazed how even very young children understand the underlying messages in john Burningham books. No need to replace ANY of the words?! It is perfect. Check out also The Magic Bed and possibly the greatest picture book ever - Would you Rather. Buy it! :)
2 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In John Patrick Norman McHennessy, the boy who was always late, the hero, John Patrick Norman McHennesy, is punished daily for being late. But hey, it isn't his fault. Every day, as he sets 'off on the road to learn,' he is accosted by some wild animal who rips his clothes, or a tidal wave drenches him, or some other calamity. Of course, his strict teacher does not buy these stories, so John is humilated and forced to do lines, and even threatened with a beating. Then one day, it is the teacher who finds himself in a sticky situation. But little John saunters out and continues on 'the road to learn.'
Although (slightly) exaggerated, the attitude and behaviour of the teacher is startlingly true to life. (I'm not saying all teachers are cruel, but a few are) Children are often humilated, punished for crimes they have not commited, and it wasn't too many years ago when children were hit by teachers. The bit I love is that John realises that true learning takes place outside of the school, in real life; he learned more on his adventures to school than in school.
Although (slightly) exaggerated, the attitude and behaviour of the teacher is startlingly true to life. (I'm not saying all teachers are cruel, but a few are) Children are often humilated, punished for crimes they have not commited, and it wasn't too many years ago when children were hit by teachers. The bit I love is that John realises that true learning takes place outside of the school, in real life; he learned more on his adventures to school than in school.
2 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By K. Fraser
Format:Paperback
This was my absolute favourite book when I was about 5, it's hilarious and I can't actually remeber the story but it was soo good i managed to memorise most of it because I had it read to me so many times. Everyone should read it because its a really funny story for little people and the pictures are groovy too.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
an enjoyable book that sparks the kids imaginations. Some of the words can be changed to make it appropriate for younger/older children
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