Motor Miles

That master of picture book fantasies involving vehicles, children, and animals (Mr. Gumpy's Outing, rev. 2/72; Mr. Gumpy's Motor Car, rev. 8/76) returns, to utterly endearing effect. Though Miles's human family -- mom Alice and young son Norman -- loves him, he is a "very difficult dog." The only time he's cooperative is when Alice drives him up the hill to the café in her car. When, after a while, Alice balks at this constant placating, neighbor Mr. Huddy steps in and offers to make Miles his own car. And we're off: after driving lessons, Miles is ready for the road. One day, Miles drives Norman to school, and soon the pair embarks on secret adventures: to the seaside (on a gorgeous double-page spread that might recall Burningham's iconic Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang illustrations) and the countryside (on a spread that overtly references Motor Car); in summer, fall, and winter. Gradually, Miles becomes less difficult. When Norman grows too big to fit in the car, it's put away. But what are those noises coming from the workshop next door? More adventures are in store: "Mr. Huddy was starting to make an airplane." As always, Burningham controls pacing through a mix of vignettes, full-page illustrations, and double-page spreads; his pen-and-ink and watercolor drawings, in all their skillful lack of polish, are maximally expressive. A paean to difficult dogs and their owners, everywhere. martha v. parravano

Though Miles's human family loves him, he is a "very difficult dog." The only time he's cooperative is in the car, so neighbor Mr. Huddy makes Miles his own car. After driving lessons, Miles is ready for the road. As always, Burningham controls pacing through a mix of vignettes, full-page illustrations, and double-page spreads; his pen-and-ink and watercolor drawings are maximally expressive.