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. 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. The story is simple but delightful and the dialogue is spot on - especially for parents who like to do voices when they read aloud. 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. 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.

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. Bill and Betty exchange pleasantries and after a short while Bill describes his unusual find the other evening. 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.To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. 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.

The picture book which dares to show how prison policy can best be reformed by the introduction of dating agencies and matchmaking. The first is when he steals a box only to find it contains a baby, and the second is when he, too, is burgled, by Burglar Betty. The iconic images of swarthy Bill clutching his swag bag will stick fast in the mind, while everyone will breathe a sigh of relief as he renounces his wicked ways and turns over a new leaf! 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!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! We can also bring this story in PSHE classes to help the children understand how our own actions may affect other peoples’ feelings. Moved by her friendliness, he does this, forgetting about the jewels he has come to steal, and is rewarded with a damson tartlet before escaping. If used to support learning at home, Burglar Bill can help first readers achieve the targets for Key Stage One English: Reading.