tended? That is the trouble. Unless I
can say, "For those, young or old, who like the things which I like,"
I find it difficult to answer. Is it a children's book? Well, what
do we mean by that? Is _The Wind in the Willows_ a children's book?
Is _Alice in Wonderland?_ Is _Treasure Island?_ These are
masterpieces which we read with pleasure as children, but with how
much more pleasure when we are grown-up. In any case what do we mean
by "children"? A boy of three, a girl of six, a boy of ten, a girl of
fourteen--are they all to like the same thing? And is a book
"suitable for a boy of twelve" any more likely to please a boy of
twelve than a modern novel is likely to please a man of thirty-seven;
even if the novel be described truly as "suitable for a man of
thirty-seven"? I confess that I cannot grapple with these difficult
problems.

But I am very sure of this: that no one can write a book which
children will like, unless he write it for himself first. That being
so, I shall say boldly that this is a story for grown-ups. How
grown-up I did not realise until I received a letter from an unknown
reader a few weeks after its first publication; a letter which said
that he was delighted with my clever satires of the Kaiser, Mr. Lloyd
George and Mr. Asquith, but he could not be sure which of the
characters were meant to be Mr. Winston Churchill and Mr. Bonar Law.
Would I tell him on the enclosed postcard? I replied that they were
thinly disguised on the title-page as Messrs. Hodder & Stoughton. In
fact, it is not that sort of book.

But, as you see, I am still finding it difficult to explain just what
sort of book it is. Perhaps no explanation is necessary. Read in it
what you like; read it to whomever you like; be of what age you like;
it can only fall into one of two classes. Either you will enjoy it,
or you won't.

It is that sort of book.

A. A. Milne.

CONTENTS

I.--The King of Euralia has a Visitor to Breakfast

II.--The Chancellor of Barodia has a Long Walk Home

III.--The King of Euralia Draws his Sword

IV.--The Princess Hyacinth Leaves it to the Countess

V.--Belvane Indulges her Hobby

VI.--There are no Wizards in Barodia

VII.--The Princess Receives a Letter and Writes One

VIII.--Prince Udo Sleeps Badly

IX.--They are Afraid of Udo

X.--Charlotte Patacake Astonishes the Critics

XI.--Watercress Seems to go with the Ears

XII.--We Decide to Write to Udo's Father

XIII