EMP - Borka: The Adventures of a Goose with No Feathers

By John Burningham

Borka is a bald goose, unlike her brothers and sisters, so her mother,Mrs Plumpster, knits her a woollen jersey which means she is warmer at night but a laughing stock among the other young geese! Poor Borka is overlooked when it is time to fly off for the winter but luckily, seeking shelter, she accidentally stows away on a boat headed for London. Her new friends, Captain McAllister and his crew on the Crombie, find her a home at Kew Gardens and here the geese do not laugh at her. She even makes a special friend, a goose called Ferdinand, who cares for her and teaches her to swim. With a nice personal touch, the story ends by asking the reader to look out, if ever visiting Kew Gardens, for a goose who looks a little different because ‘it might well be Borka'.

This enchanting tale follows this young bird and his adventure to over come the winter mouths with out feathers. With this book I am particularly focusing on the illustration style. The illustration style by John Burningham is simple but effective, it attracts his child target audience. By making his illustrations not to complex they become easier to read. This classic children's novel has stood the test of time due to its timeless story and supporting illustrations. I have looked at this story in particular because it relates to my project. This novel and my project have the idea of birds and migration as its main point. 

I have found looking at this book very rewarding and it has defiantly inspired me to consider making a children's book. With a self written story, and illustrations to support. I would love to experiment with how I could write and attract a young audience with a mixture of texture and illustration. I could make extra pieces to support the book e.g. a poster, a map, postcards.