Borka one of six goslings hatched by Mrs Plumster, is different from the rest, she has no feathers. The doctor advises the distressed mother to knit some for her daughter, but the grey jersey makes swimming and flying equally difficult and Borka is left behind when the family migrate in the autumn.

John Burningham was born 1936. He trained at the Central School of Art and Design, London. His first picture book, Borka was published in 1963. He is married to Helen Oxenbury, another popular children's illustrator.

He says that, "Drawing is like playing the piano; it's not a mechanical skill like bricklaying and you have to practise constantly to keep it fluent. Even after 40 years it doesn't get any easier. When I draw I'm conscious of looking for a lively line - though what defines a lively line is difficult to say- but a bald outline would not be very interesting, obviously. A dipping pen is good - the weight of the line alters the pressure you put on, so you get a bit of variety."