John Burningham was born on April 27, 1936 in Farnham, Surrey, England. In 1956, Burningham started his studies at the Central School of Art, where he received a diploma. He wasted no time putting his artistic abilities to good use. He designed posters for London Transport and the British Transport Commission. He also spent a year on an animated puppet film in the Middle East. He found his ultimate calling of writing and illustrating children's books in 1963.
