Plot summary:
First, get in a light airplane, fly up very, very high, put on your parachute and jump out. If the parachute doesn’t open, then grab hold of the leg of a passing eagle and let him carry you up to his nest on the top of a mountain. Once there, sit down and have an idea. Get up, stretch, then head down the mountain to a huge door. Open the door and enter the wood. Find your way by observing the moss, your compass, the stars. When you get lost, scream. When a bear appears, stop screaming. Take the map the bear offers you, thank him and give him a big hug, then follow the instructions until you find the place marked X. Dig and dig and dig, open the hidden chest and put on the top hat you find inside. Leave the chest and run away from the tribe of natives pursuing you. Hold on tight to your hat. Hide in the hollow palm tree, and go down the steps inside. Enter the labyrinth, following the smell of freshly baked biscuits, climb the rope up to the hole marked Exit. Peer out, but mind the passing herd of rhinoceroses.
Climb out, brush the dust off your clothes and your hat. Look around you, while whistling a tune, then raise your hand and hail a taxi. Tell the taxi driver to follow the white rabbit and get out where you see a lady with a pair of binoculars. Ask her if you can borrow them, and use them to find your house. Retrace your steps, and on the way, remember that it’s a friend’s birthday. Buy her something exotic, or, better still, give her this book! Finally, choose some really nice wrapping paper, and wrap up the book. Use sellotape, not nails, glue or magic. Before giving her the present, don’t forget to say: Happy Birthday. If you follow these steps, success is guaranteed, but remember, if, when you jump out of the plane, your parachute does open, then go straight to step 9.
This is a splendidly dotty book, with brief instructions on each page and nice, bold drawings. I found it irresistibly eccentric, and I think youngish children would love it too.
From the reader´s report by Margaret Jull Costa
