The book that came second in the recent Best Children's Book Ever contest - won by the mighty Philip Pullman who graciously said Tom's should have won it.

Not true. A sweet story from 1958 but very much a children's book.

Not in the same league as Pullman's masterpiece, His Dark Materials.

And not as good, dare I say it, as the marvellous Harry Potter series (one week to go).

So - I recommend it but without enormous enthusiasm.