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Burglar Bill
Janet and Allan Ahlberg's hilarious picture book, Burglar Bill. Burglar Bill is an entertaining picture book by the iconic British husband and wife picture book team Janet and Allan Ahlberg, creators of Peepo! Perfect as a bedtime story and for children learning to read! 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. Allan Ahlberg has published over 100 children's books and with his late wife Janet, created many award-winning children's picture books, including Cops and Robbers, It was a Dark and Stormy Night, Each Peach Pear Plum and the Kate Greenaway Medal winning The Jolly Postman. Look out for these other classics by Allan Kicking a Ball; The Baby's Catalogue; Cops and Robbers; Each Peach Pear Plum; The One and Only Two Heads; Son of a Gun; The Little Worm Book; Two Wheels Two Heads; Funny Bones; A Pair of Sinners; Happy Families; Peepo!; The Ha Ha Bonk Book; Help Your Child to Read; Ten in a Bed; Please Mrs Butler; Daisy Chains; Yum Yum; Playmates; Foldaways; Woof; The Cinderella Show; The Jolly Postman; The Jolly Christmas Postman; The Jolly Pocket Postman; The Clothes Horse and Other Stories; The Mighty Slide; Starting School; Heard it in the Playground; The Bear Nobody Wanted; It was a Dark and Stormy Night; The Giant Baby; Baby Sleeps; Blue Buggy; Doll and Teddy; See the Rabbit; Please Mrs Butler; The Better Brown Stories; The Boyhood of Burglar Bill
32 pages, Paperback
First published February 21, 1977
About the author
Allan Ahlberg
346 books155 followersAllan Ahlberg is one of the UK's most acclaimed and successful authors of children's books - including the best-selling Jolly Postman series. Born in Croydon in 1938, he was educated at Sunderland Technical College. Although he dreamed of becoming a writer since the age of twelve, his route to that goal was somewhat circuitous. Other jobs along the way included postman (not an especially jolly one, he recalls), gravedigger, plumber, and teacher.
Ahlberg wrote his first book when he was thirty-seven, after a decade of teaching - a profession that he maintains is "much harder" than being a writer. He says that if he hadn't become a writer, he would have loved to be a soccer player. He was married for many years to fellow children's author Janet Ahlberg, with whom he often worked. Their daughter, Jessica Ahlberg, is also a children's author.
For more information, please see http://www.answers.com/topic/allan-ah...
Ahlberg wrote his first book when he was thirty-seven, after a decade of teaching - a profession that he maintains is "much harder" than being a writer. He says that if he hadn't become a writer, he would have loved to be a soccer player. He was married for many years to fellow children's author Janet Ahlberg, with whom he often worked. Their daughter, Jessica Ahlberg, is also a children's author.
For more information, please see http://www.answers.com/topic/allan-ah...
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March 9, 2018Searing social commentary for the under fives.
Reading with astonishment how hardened career criminals turn their lives around abandoning their parasitic lifestyle to became stalwart pillars of the community. The picture book which dares to show how prison policy can best be reformed by the introduction of dating agencies and matchmaking.
Based on the lives of the authors, who abandoned the thankless task of attempting to get children to sit quietly and drink up all their milk, or to walk neatly
hand in hand in pairs across the playground in favour of the socially beneficial task of writing children's books.
Warning: this book may encourage children to become burglars purely from an excessive delight in the world and all its manufactured goodness.
Reading with astonishment how hardened career criminals turn their lives around abandoning their parasitic lifestyle to became stalwart pillars of the community. The picture book which dares to show how prison policy can best be reformed by the introduction of dating agencies and matchmaking.
Based on the lives of the authors, who abandoned the thankless task of attempting to get children to sit quietly and drink up all their milk, or to walk neatly
hand in hand in pairs across the playground in favour of the socially beneficial task of writing children's books.
Warning: this book may encourage children to become burglars purely from an excessive delight in the world and all its manufactured goodness.
September 23, 2022
One of my childhood favourites that still delights when resisting with my own kid.
It's such an oddball story as Burglar Bill lives upto his name and pinches anything he fancies, including a box with a big surprise.
One thing that struck me whilst revisiting this was how quick Bill was able to react to finding a baby thrust apon him, adapting to the responsibility so quickly.
There's also a nice message as Bill soon finds the errors of his ways when his own house is being targeted by a female burglar and the pair realise how traumatic the experience can be and quickly try to rectify it.
Wonderful illustrations which you'd expect from the Ahlberg's.
This book weirdly felt very nostalgically of a time whilst still feeling super relevant today.
It's such an oddball story as Burglar Bill lives upto his name and pinches anything he fancies, including a box with a big surprise.
One thing that struck me whilst revisiting this was how quick Bill was able to react to finding a baby thrust apon him, adapting to the responsibility so quickly.
There's also a nice message as Bill soon finds the errors of his ways when his own house is being targeted by a female burglar and the pair realise how traumatic the experience can be and quickly try to rectify it.
Wonderful illustrations which you'd expect from the Ahlberg's.
This book weirdly felt very nostalgically of a time whilst still feeling super relevant today.
July 24, 2019
An absolute classic! Nobody can fail to be amused, love, and be entranced by the adventures of Bill, as he goes about his burglary business, adopts a baby left at his door, and falls victim himself to a female burglar whom he eventually marries. The whole tone and ambience is captured perfectly in the illustrations, and should be on every child's bookshelf. Also, there is an implicit moral tone to the story that balances the otherwise unacceptable idea that burglary is a forgivable, victimless activity. In this story, the husband-and-wife burglars recognise the error of their ways, and return all their stolen goods to the respective owners in the dead of night. Crime doesn't pay, nobody goes to jail, nobody loses out, and everyone's happy. If only real life reflected all of that!
August 22, 2021
The eponymous Burglar Bill lives a solitary life of crime in this picture-book from Janet and Allan Ahlberg, robbing homes at night and returning to his own domicile - entirely kitted out with ill-gotten goods - to sleep during the day. Then one night he discovers a cardboard box at one of the homes he is burgling, and thinking it might come in handy, brings it home with him. Imagine his surprise when it contains a baby! Now Burglar Bill has an entirely new occupation: child minder. Soon he also has a lady love, in the form of Burglar Betty, leading to some surprising changes in all of their lives...
Originally published in 1977, and recommended to me by an online friend, Burglar Bill is only the second picture-book I have read from Janet and Allan Ahlberg, following upon their classic Each Peach Pear Plum . I found it quite amusing, with its blithe acceptance of Burglar Bill's crime sprees, and its tale of lifestyle reformation. The artwork was likewise appealing, with plenty of fun little details to examine. It's interesting to note that a number of online reviews criticize the fact that Bill and Betty were never punished for their transgressions, leading me to wonder whether this issue has ever caused the book to be challenged, when it comes to inclusion in school and public library collections. I note that many American libraries in WorldCat have it in their collection, so perhaps the eventual reformation of the characters was enough for it to pass muster. I also wonder whether the satirical poem Burglar Bill, included in F. Anstey's 1888 Burglar Bill, and Other Pieces for the Use of the Young Reciter , might have been an inspiration for the Ahlbergs. After all, that poem - perhaps meant to mock sentimental stories like Frances Hodgson's Burnett's Editha's Burglar - also dealt with a burglar and his transformative encounter with an innocent child.
Whatever the case might be, this is one I enjoyed, and that I would recommend to picture-book readers who enjoy humorous and somewhat quirky stories.
Originally published in 1977, and recommended to me by an online friend, Burglar Bill is only the second picture-book I have read from Janet and Allan Ahlberg, following upon their classic Each Peach Pear Plum . I found it quite amusing, with its blithe acceptance of Burglar Bill's crime sprees, and its tale of lifestyle reformation. The artwork was likewise appealing, with plenty of fun little details to examine. It's interesting to note that a number of online reviews criticize the fact that Bill and Betty were never punished for their transgressions, leading me to wonder whether this issue has ever caused the book to be challenged, when it comes to inclusion in school and public library collections. I note that many American libraries in WorldCat have it in their collection, so perhaps the eventual reformation of the characters was enough for it to pass muster. I also wonder whether the satirical poem Burglar Bill, included in F. Anstey's 1888 Burglar Bill, and Other Pieces for the Use of the Young Reciter , might have been an inspiration for the Ahlbergs. After all, that poem - perhaps meant to mock sentimental stories like Frances Hodgson's Burnett's Editha's Burglar - also dealt with a burglar and his transformative encounter with an innocent child.
Whatever the case might be, this is one I enjoyed, and that I would recommend to picture-book readers who enjoy humorous and somewhat quirky stories.
January 21, 2013
‘Burglar Bill’ is a story about a man who burgles everything, even the bed he sleeps in! One evening, Bill comes across a brown box and decides to steal it. Burglar Bill settles down for the night when he is woken by a strange sound. He goes to investigate and realises the noises are coming from the box. Bill opens the box and to his surprise he finds a baby inside.
After spending the whole day together Bill puts baby to bed. Once asleep Bill hears a familiar sound, he creeps downstairs to find a burglar in his house. He confronts the burglar (Burglar Betty) and the pair hit it off instantly.
Bill and Betty exchange pleasantries and after a short while Bill describes his unusual find the other evening. He introduces the baby to Betty however Betty is already fully acquainted with the baby because the baby is actually hers!
They both realise the error of their thieving ways and decide to give everything back and get married and live happily ever after.
I remember reading this book as a child and I am sorry to say that I did not enjoy reading it again as an adult. As Author’s I really love Janet and Allan Ahlberg especially their poetry writing such as, ‘Please Mrs Butler’ and the ‘Happy Families’ volumes. However this story is over-stretching the mark when it comes to “happy families”. It is far too unrealistic and very sketchy in places. I would of much preferred it if Burglar Bill and Burglar Betty had carried on with their mischievous ways, committing themselves to a life of crime, with a third member (Burglar Baby) joining in with the midnight antics.
The story depicts thieves as having a moral conscience only with regards to infants; but anything of monetary or materialistic value is game. The book also illustrates that burglars will do ‘good’ if they give everything-they ever stole-back to their victims and will receive no retribution and even go on to get a job, get married and live happy lives. This is far from reality and is actually painting an unwholesome picture of society, which also sends out the wrong message to children that you can steal things from people as long as you return it without them knowing and promise you’ll never do it again!
If I had to recommend ‘Burglar Bill’ I would suggest its use in the EYFS, purely as a book to read to the class and facilitate a discussion about stranger danger. The talk would lead onto what a burglar does? Why it is wrong? What they would have done differently if they were Bill? And to get the children to draw a wanted poster of Burglar Bill or any of the other characters from the story, which would serve as visual material for their Police station role-play area or contribute to a classroom display.
After spending the whole day together Bill puts baby to bed. Once asleep Bill hears a familiar sound, he creeps downstairs to find a burglar in his house. He confronts the burglar (Burglar Betty) and the pair hit it off instantly.
Bill and Betty exchange pleasantries and after a short while Bill describes his unusual find the other evening. He introduces the baby to Betty however Betty is already fully acquainted with the baby because the baby is actually hers!
They both realise the error of their thieving ways and decide to give everything back and get married and live happily ever after.
I remember reading this book as a child and I am sorry to say that I did not enjoy reading it again as an adult. As Author’s I really love Janet and Allan Ahlberg especially their poetry writing such as, ‘Please Mrs Butler’ and the ‘Happy Families’ volumes. However this story is over-stretching the mark when it comes to “happy families”. It is far too unrealistic and very sketchy in places. I would of much preferred it if Burglar Bill and Burglar Betty had carried on with their mischievous ways, committing themselves to a life of crime, with a third member (Burglar Baby) joining in with the midnight antics.
The story depicts thieves as having a moral conscience only with regards to infants; but anything of monetary or materialistic value is game. The book also illustrates that burglars will do ‘good’ if they give everything-they ever stole-back to their victims and will receive no retribution and even go on to get a job, get married and live happy lives. This is far from reality and is actually painting an unwholesome picture of society, which also sends out the wrong message to children that you can steal things from people as long as you return it without them knowing and promise you’ll never do it again!
If I had to recommend ‘Burglar Bill’ I would suggest its use in the EYFS, purely as a book to read to the class and facilitate a discussion about stranger danger. The talk would lead onto what a burglar does? Why it is wrong? What they would have done differently if they were Bill? And to get the children to draw a wanted poster of Burglar Bill or any of the other characters from the story, which would serve as visual material for their Police station role-play area or contribute to a classroom display.
July 9, 2020
Burglar bill steals a box one night, in that box there is a baby. A charming little story where the writers make use of words in a funny or rhythmic way. This book has also pretty art to go with the story. Great story!
This book is in the 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up challenge I am doing.
This book is in the 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up challenge I am doing.
September 27, 2011
I loved having this book read to me as a child, and liked the illustrations.
Bill is a burglar! Everything in his house has been stolen. One day he finds a baby whilst out stealing, he plays with the baby all day and takes it home. Then someone decides to steal from Bill, it is burglar Betty who happens to be the babies mother! Together they decide to live a honest life and promise never to steal again.
This is a wonderful book, really fun and engaging. It would be a great read for EYFS/KS1.
Bill is a burglar! Everything in his house has been stolen. One day he finds a baby whilst out stealing, he plays with the baby all day and takes it home. Then someone decides to steal from Bill, it is burglar Betty who happens to be the babies mother! Together they decide to live a honest life and promise never to steal again.
This is a wonderful book, really fun and engaging. It would be a great read for EYFS/KS1.
September 19, 2011
I simply love this book which is about a burglar named Bill whos life is surrounded by stolen items from the tea he drinks to the bed he sleeps on! But two major life changing events happen which makes him change his ways! One is when he steals a baby and the other when he is burgled by the baby's mother burglar Betty. Together they decide that enough is enough and begin to lead a honest life.... A good read together book for children in EYFS and Key Stage 1.
November 11, 2015
Children can learn how to behave appropriately from reading this book.
March 5, 2020
This is The Book. The first book that really hooked me, the book that made me want more stories like this. The book that made me a reader. I can remember, after reading this, telling my mum and a group of her friends that I wanted to be a burglar when I grew up, and their mock outrage (which seemed genuine to me!). I wanted the mask and the cap and the striped jumper and the sack, and I wanted Bill's cosy looking little house, and to sleep all day and go out at night (this may be the genesis of my love of vampire lore too). Anyway, you get the idea. I love this book.
So when we spotted it in the library last week, I think I may have did a little jig of delight. We read it last night, and the kid loved it so much that he insisted we read it again first thing this morning. I don't remember Burglar Bill being a Londoner when I read it as a kid, but I found myself doing a dodgy Ray Winstone impersonation here. Not that he's typecast.
I've now spotted that there's a book called The Boyhood of Burglar Bill. I'm ridiculously excited.
So when we spotted it in the library last week, I think I may have did a little jig of delight. We read it last night, and the kid loved it so much that he insisted we read it again first thing this morning. I don't remember Burglar Bill being a Londoner when I read it as a kid, but I found myself doing a dodgy Ray Winstone impersonation here. Not that he's typecast.
I've now spotted that there's a book called The Boyhood of Burglar Bill. I'm ridiculously excited.
October 16, 2017
I really enjoyed the frivolity of this book. Burglar Bill turns his life around through finding romance in the most unexpected way.
October 29, 2018
Funny book to read aloud to children; would be great to read in connection with the Naughty, Naughty Baddies :-)
(Shouldn't be taken too seriously!)
(Shouldn't be taken too seriously!)
December 25, 2023
Really funny book loved the ending
November 2, 2013
This book had me laughing out loud (with the window open - I'm sure my neighbour is questioning my sanity!). There is something of a straight-faced-but-purposely-ridiculous whimsy in a lot of British children's books, and this one really takes it to extremes. As with The Tiger Who Came to Tea , you find yourself reading about something quite bizarre, but described in a way as if it were the most natural thing in the world!
Burglar Bill is a burglar (obviously). The very stereotypical type - with a black-and-white striped top, a bag of loot over his back, and a mask over his eyes. The book seems to revel in stereotypes as part of its silliness. Anyway, gosh, Burglar Bill is totally defined by his whole burglar-ness, as well as his Englishness, as every night he has 'stolen fish and chips and a cup of stolen tea for supper'. In fact he even uses a stolen sack to do his 'work' of stealing things. Every morning he has stolen toast and marmalade - as with The Tiger Who Came To Tea , there is the incongruous mix of traditional cosy English life along with something quite forceful and unmannerly.
But from the start, you can see Burglar Bill isn't exactly a scary burglar. He has a cat who snuggles up on his bed at night, and a teddy bear. His 'work' of burglary is quite amusing. It goes like this:
'That's a nice toothbrush,' says Burglar Bill. 'I'll have that!' And he puts it in his sack.
'That's a nice tin of beans,' says Burglar Bill. 'I'll have that!' And he puts it in his sack.
The real adventure begins when he burgles a big brown box that was left on a doorstep, takes it home, and realises there's a baby inside it. Suddenly Burglar Bill is the quiet polite English person while the baby is the disruptive force. Burglar Bill has to find ways of entertaining and looking after the baby - feeding him beans, playing the piano to him, trying to change his nappy, teaching him to talk. (Yes, it's really not the most realistic of books, if you hadn't realised by now! This little baby is able to repeat 'bogloboll' when Burglar Bill says 'Say "Burglar Bill".') Lacking a pram, Burglar Bill takes the baby out for a walk in a wheelbarrow!
This book really has quite an intricate plot for a picture book - I'm pretty sure I would have loved it if it had been around when I was a kid. (Oh, by the way, here come some spoilers - stop reading now if you want to read this book and be surprised by the plot twists!) That night, Burglar Bill is awoken to the sound of someone in his house saying 'That's a nice umbrella - I'll take that.' We know by now that this is of course what all burglars say when they are burgling a home, so Burglar Bill realises he's being burgled and goes downstairs and sees a woman with a striped top and a mask over her eyes. The exchange between them is what had me laughing out loud:
'Who are you?' says Burglar Bill.
'I'm Burglar Betty,' says the lady. 'Who are you?'
You can totally imagine the author having great fun creating such a blatantly ridiculous scenario! And guess what - it turns out that the baby is Burglar Betty's. She just left him on the door step while she was busy burgling and the next thing she knew, he'd gone. Can't have bothered her that much to have her baby stolen though, considering she was out burgling again that same day, and getting excited to find a nice umbrella to steal!
The plot becomes very predictable - as Burglar Bill and Burglar Betty talk, they both establish that the other is single, and so they decide to get married. And of course to give up their burgling ways - clearly a story for children has to have a moral ending! Burglar Bill starts working in the bakery and becomes Bakery Bill. Burglar Betty becomes a stay-at-home mum, I presume. It's so hilariously and obviously contrived! Best book on the list so far!
Burglar Bill is a burglar (obviously). The very stereotypical type - with a black-and-white striped top, a bag of loot over his back, and a mask over his eyes. The book seems to revel in stereotypes as part of its silliness. Anyway, gosh, Burglar Bill is totally defined by his whole burglar-ness, as well as his Englishness, as every night he has 'stolen fish and chips and a cup of stolen tea for supper'. In fact he even uses a stolen sack to do his 'work' of stealing things. Every morning he has stolen toast and marmalade - as with The Tiger Who Came To Tea , there is the incongruous mix of traditional cosy English life along with something quite forceful and unmannerly.
But from the start, you can see Burglar Bill isn't exactly a scary burglar. He has a cat who snuggles up on his bed at night, and a teddy bear. His 'work' of burglary is quite amusing. It goes like this:
'That's a nice toothbrush,' says Burglar Bill. 'I'll have that!' And he puts it in his sack.
'That's a nice tin of beans,' says Burglar Bill. 'I'll have that!' And he puts it in his sack.
The real adventure begins when he burgles a big brown box that was left on a doorstep, takes it home, and realises there's a baby inside it. Suddenly Burglar Bill is the quiet polite English person while the baby is the disruptive force. Burglar Bill has to find ways of entertaining and looking after the baby - feeding him beans, playing the piano to him, trying to change his nappy, teaching him to talk. (Yes, it's really not the most realistic of books, if you hadn't realised by now! This little baby is able to repeat 'bogloboll' when Burglar Bill says 'Say "Burglar Bill".') Lacking a pram, Burglar Bill takes the baby out for a walk in a wheelbarrow!
This book really has quite an intricate plot for a picture book - I'm pretty sure I would have loved it if it had been around when I was a kid. (Oh, by the way, here come some spoilers - stop reading now if you want to read this book and be surprised by the plot twists!) That night, Burglar Bill is awoken to the sound of someone in his house saying 'That's a nice umbrella - I'll take that.' We know by now that this is of course what all burglars say when they are burgling a home, so Burglar Bill realises he's being burgled and goes downstairs and sees a woman with a striped top and a mask over her eyes. The exchange between them is what had me laughing out loud:
'Who are you?' says Burglar Bill.
'I'm Burglar Betty,' says the lady. 'Who are you?'
You can totally imagine the author having great fun creating such a blatantly ridiculous scenario! And guess what - it turns out that the baby is Burglar Betty's. She just left him on the door step while she was busy burgling and the next thing she knew, he'd gone. Can't have bothered her that much to have her baby stolen though, considering she was out burgling again that same day, and getting excited to find a nice umbrella to steal!
The plot becomes very predictable - as Burglar Bill and Burglar Betty talk, they both establish that the other is single, and so they decide to get married. And of course to give up their burgling ways - clearly a story for children has to have a moral ending! Burglar Bill starts working in the bakery and becomes Bakery Bill. Burglar Betty becomes a stay-at-home mum, I presume. It's so hilariously and obviously contrived! Best book on the list so far!
December 12, 2012
I remembered loving this book as a child so wanted to see if it lived up to my memory of it, and it did. I don't know if it's nostalgia but I thought it was a very sweet story that made me chuckle. It all came back to me as I read it, especially the baby's attempt at saying Burglar Bill. If you haven't read it, I would recommend you take a look at it at some point.
*Spoiler alert* it's an unlikely boy meets girl story, in which our hero Bill accidentally steals a baby, before meeting a lady friend when she breaks in to his house. Luckily for our young readers their encounter helps them see the error of their ways, so there is no need to worry about children taking to a life of crime after reading.
From an educational point of view I think this is a nice story that children from nursery-year 2 would find enjoyable. I love the illustrations. It would be interesting to look at the speech in the book, as the characters speak in a non-standard English way, that could be a point of interest for older children ("And these are his own little clothes as well what his Grandma knit him" etc).
I have to give it 5 stars just for keeping me amused for a good while some 25 years after I first read it.
*Spoiler alert* it's an unlikely boy meets girl story, in which our hero Bill accidentally steals a baby, before meeting a lady friend when she breaks in to his house. Luckily for our young readers their encounter helps them see the error of their ways, so there is no need to worry about children taking to a life of crime after reading.
From an educational point of view I think this is a nice story that children from nursery-year 2 would find enjoyable. I love the illustrations. It would be interesting to look at the speech in the book, as the characters speak in a non-standard English way, that could be a point of interest for older children ("And these are his own little clothes as well what his Grandma knit him" etc).
I have to give it 5 stars just for keeping me amused for a good while some 25 years after I first read it.
July 31, 2012
Title: Burglar Bill
Author(s): Janet and Allan Ahlberg
Burglar Bill is a fascinating story about a charismatic chap called Bill. He is a very nice guy. However, he has one slight problem, he is a thief! Yes, virtually everything in his house has been stolen from somewhere in the village. Even the mug that he drinks his coffee from does not actually belong to him. But how does he feel when he becomes the victim of a burglary? This beautiful story takes us on Burglar Bill’s journey of transformation as he learns from his experiences and aims to pursue a new career which does not involve crime.
Overall, this is a very funny and engaging story. There are some lovely illustrations in the book. Furthermore, the authors have used some great moments of dialogue throughout the story which makes it even more enjoyable.
I would recommend this book for children in year 3 and 4. It can be used in literacy classes to help the children analyse a character’s behaviour in a story and how this can change through the course of a story. We can also bring this story in PSHE classes to help the children understand how our own actions may affect other peoples’ feelings.
Author(s): Janet and Allan Ahlberg
Burglar Bill is a fascinating story about a charismatic chap called Bill. He is a very nice guy. However, he has one slight problem, he is a thief! Yes, virtually everything in his house has been stolen from somewhere in the village. Even the mug that he drinks his coffee from does not actually belong to him. But how does he feel when he becomes the victim of a burglary? This beautiful story takes us on Burglar Bill’s journey of transformation as he learns from his experiences and aims to pursue a new career which does not involve crime.
Overall, this is a very funny and engaging story. There are some lovely illustrations in the book. Furthermore, the authors have used some great moments of dialogue throughout the story which makes it even more enjoyable.
I would recommend this book for children in year 3 and 4. It can be used in literacy classes to help the children analyse a character’s behaviour in a story and how this can change through the course of a story. We can also bring this story in PSHE classes to help the children understand how our own actions may affect other peoples’ feelings.
May 3, 2012
Very fun read, based on Bill a burglar who steals almost anything he can get his hands on. One day Bill steals a baby and they have a fantastic time together until one day things change for Bill, he has an intruder in house who is about to steal from him...coincidently this burglar turns out to be the baby’s mother Betty. Betty and Bill fall in love and decide to change their lifestyles and lead an honest life and return all the stolen goods. Highly recommend this book for KS1 during story time, children will engage with it as it is very light hearted and has great pictures that go alongside the story.
October 6, 2018
I loved this as a kid and found it again recently. The story itself is gleefully subversive in depicting a life of crime and redemption without consequence. Taking it too seriously is probably not the point.
The illustrations have a timeless charm, full of character and period detail, wonderfully rich and coloured in a style that's not that familiar these days.
It's a lovely book and if you loved it as a kid then pick it up.
The illustrations have a timeless charm, full of character and period detail, wonderfully rich and coloured in a style that's not that familiar these days.
It's a lovely book and if you loved it as a kid then pick it up.
January 31, 2014
The story is not half bad and the art was alright but I feel that the story is also unacceptable for a young child to read this. The book shows that there are no real consequences to stealing. Not even an apology is needed in this! Horrible lesson possibility! Even though the burglar changes his way there were no discipline for him in any way. I would not let my young child read this.
Currently reading
November 2, 2012Burglar Bill is a classic book from the Ahlbergs. Bill, a man who only has stolen things from his bed to his marmalade, is shocked to find he has stolen a baby! The book is excellently illustrated and very funny for younger children. Great stuff!
August 30, 2017
Being my school's librarian, I now get to sort through books we get and idly skim through them when I've got a moment. Obviously, I'm not the target demographic for children's picture books.
I really don't like the story, and it's largely because I'm rarely a fan of books that have a woman and man meet and get together because they share this one thing in common story. These are the sorts of books I would actively keep out of my (at the time of writing this, hypothetical) children's library because it is subtly teaching them a lesson that appears benign but isn't actually good for people that I know I grew up with and have been trying to unlearn since I was a child.
A book about a Career Burglar who decides to become a better man out of his own self-discovery (and not because he met the right woman) would be a far more compelling children's book.
[I find amusement in the fact that my issue isn't with the Willingly Be A Criminal Without Consequence, though that is a problem, but with the fact that it's teaching very typical media versions of relationships, which always bothers me.]
I really don't like the story, and it's largely because I'm rarely a fan of books that have a woman and man meet and get together because they share this one thing in common story. These are the sorts of books I would actively keep out of my (at the time of writing this, hypothetical) children's library because it is subtly teaching them a lesson that appears benign but isn't actually good for people that I know I grew up with and have been trying to unlearn since I was a child.
A book about a Career Burglar who decides to become a better man out of his own self-discovery (and not because he met the right woman) would be a far more compelling children's book.
[I find amusement in the fact that my issue isn't with the Willingly Be A Criminal Without Consequence, though that is a problem, but with the fact that it's teaching very typical media versions of relationships, which always bothers me.]
February 5, 2019
Thoroughly enjoyed re-reading this book as an adult! Remember reading it myself in primary school.
Thoughts after reading:
How is the story told?
This story is a more complex picture book, the amount and level of the text is higher – the images are still an important feature in the book, however the text to illustration ratio is 50/50.
How do the words and pictures work together?
The pictures on the page add an extra element of humour and bring the characters on the page to life. The silly nature of the written story is only enhanced by the stereotypical ‘burglar’ outside the characters are wearing. The amount of writing in the book makes it a tough read for young children and the use of strong, interesting and comical images help to keep them engaged – this style and book is the perfect stepping stone for young readers prior to beginning short chapter books
What techniques can be seen in the pictures?
The images are bold and colourful, highlighting the light-hearted nature of the story. It is unrealistic and humorous and the images on the page only enhance this feature of the story
Thoughts after reading:
How is the story told?
This story is a more complex picture book, the amount and level of the text is higher – the images are still an important feature in the book, however the text to illustration ratio is 50/50.
How do the words and pictures work together?
The pictures on the page add an extra element of humour and bring the characters on the page to life. The silly nature of the written story is only enhanced by the stereotypical ‘burglar’ outside the characters are wearing. The amount of writing in the book makes it a tough read for young children and the use of strong, interesting and comical images help to keep them engaged – this style and book is the perfect stepping stone for young readers prior to beginning short chapter books
What techniques can be seen in the pictures?
The images are bold and colourful, highlighting the light-hearted nature of the story. It is unrealistic and humorous and the images on the page only enhance this feature of the story
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2021
I grew up on Ahlberg books so it was natural that I would pass these on to my children. We have enjoyed Peepo, Funnybones, Each Peach Pear Plum, The Jolly Postman, Please Mrs Butler, and the wonderful Happy Families stories. We have loved them all but the one that my boys have always come back to is Burglar Bill.
The story is simple but delightful and the dialogue is spot on - especially for parents who like to do voices when they read aloud. In our version Bill and Betty are a pair from the East End and my boys adore them. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve had to repeat “I’m a widow lady” in a squeaky falsetto and I’ve loved hearing their giggles over the years. My 8 year old still insists I read it to him at least once a month and I love the fact that if my 19 year old is around when we are reading, he will linger long enough to hear the end.
It’s been a staple in my house now for almost twenty years and even when my kids have flown the nest I’ll read it. For me it’s all about the memories.
The story is simple but delightful and the dialogue is spot on - especially for parents who like to do voices when they read aloud. In our version Bill and Betty are a pair from the East End and my boys adore them. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve had to repeat “I’m a widow lady” in a squeaky falsetto and I’ve loved hearing their giggles over the years. My 8 year old still insists I read it to him at least once a month and I love the fact that if my 19 year old is around when we are reading, he will linger long enough to hear the end.
It’s been a staple in my house now for almost twenty years and even when my kids have flown the nest I’ll read it. For me it’s all about the memories.
October 16, 2019
Warning! Your child may choose a career in crime after reading this book. The Ahlberg's delightful story has it all: adventure; romance; felonies galore; remorse; restitution and a happy ending. The happy chorus around our house after reading this book was "I'll have that!" Charming, delightful, definitely in my top ten favorite picture books.
January 2, 2018
An absolute classic! I remember this as a child, with my parents doing the various voices. I have now done the same for my niece this Christmas! With rhymes, and a song like fluency, the story takes the reader through the streets trying to catch Burglar Bill and his cronies!
June 8, 2018
Having really liked the last few books of theirs that I read, I really disliked this one. One of the main characters leaves a baby in a box...and when said box disappears, carries on as normal. This isn't addressed as anything other than 'Oh well what a funny coincidence' in the story.
October 28, 2018
“That’s a nice book, I’ll have that!”
November 29, 2018
Burglar Bill accidentally burgles a baby, which leads to a whole chain of events that changes his life.
January 28, 2019
one of the best children's books I've read in a long time. I remember reading it as a kid in the car with the audio tape. fantastic!
June 25, 2019
It's a very good book for children and quite inpressive
I recommend making a higher chapter to the book
I really decide this for every one interesting book zoo keep it now
I recommend making a higher chapter to the book
I really decide this for every one interesting book zoo keep it now
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