Pamela Allen: Brown Bread and Honey

By MARGIE THOMSON

The astounding fact is that if you read through the 26-strong list of Allen's books for young children, almost all of them leap to mind with the familiarity of books read dozens of times. She is ubiquitous in the pile of books at bedtime, many of her stories classics on display at the library.

And here is number 27, an absolute delight and clearly destined for classic status.

Brown Bread and Honey is the story of a king who loves to eat and eat - "milkshakes and muffins, puddings and pumpkins, chicken and chocolate, pavlova and pikelets" - until he was too slow to run, too tired to jump, and too heavy for his poor horse. Out of sorts with life, even his food no longer tastes any good, until his friend, the stable boy, introduces him to a new concept. Allen's illustrations are as lively, colourful and entertaining as her text.

Penguin

$29.95