"the new york times" cited it as one of the "ten best picture books of the year" in 1969. the book placed at number 199 in the big read, a 2003 poll conducted by the bbc to determine the united kingdom's best loved books. it was one of the few picture books to place on the list. based on a 2007 online poll, the national education association named the book one of its "teachers' top 100 books for children."