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The Shopping Basket
The Shopping Basket
Mar 12, 2026 10:57 PM

Author:John Burningham

The Shopping Basket

Steven is sent out for groceries on to the mean street of the city with only a shopping basket for protection. There are several shady characters about who are offering to lighten the load of the basket by helping themselves to his provisions! Stephen's having none of it and with the help of some of the city's less attractive sights he outsmarts all of them and makes it home in time for tea. With the pictures telling as much of the story as the text, children and adults alike will appreciate the humour and observations from this well known children's author.

Reviews

A classic story

—— Nursery World

One of the best writers in the business

—— Financial Times

The language of children is Burningham's

—— TES

Rai holds his reader with a convincing, disturbing portrait of excluded people struggling for something better . . . a thought-provoking, eye-opening picture

—— Irish Times

A hard-hitting, totally convincing and yet strangely sympathetic tale of life on the streets of our cities today

—— Carousel

An intricately plotted drama . . . Rai builds his story with consummate control . . . his empathetic portrayal of his multi-cultural cast of characters is underpinned by a sure grasp of street-language and mores

—— Books for Keeps

A cracking new book for older children . . . Like all her best work, this book is perfectly pitched to hook in even the most reluctant reader. The tone is fresh, funny and direct while strongly underpinned with genuine emotion

—— Daily Mail

'Thought-provoking ... strong second novel'

—— Bert Wright , Business Post

'A poignant, delicately composed novel that doesn't stint on the wreckage of violence.'

—— Irish Daily Mail

McKeon ... is a writer to watch. He conveys how people who cause harm can sometimes be victims, in their own way, and that takes skill. If you enjoy Colum Mcann's work, this novel is for you.'

—— Martina Devlin , Irish Independent

'... beautifully written, placed in those grey shadows between right and wrong and profound, terrible loss.'

—— Anne Cunningham , Sunday Independent

A beautifully crafted story about the legacy of trauma

—— Sarah Gilmartin , The Irish Times

A supreme storyteller

—— Robert Collins , The Sunday Times Ireland
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