Buy earlier books by this author before this one!!! I picked up this book in complete ignorance of what or who this is. Don't repeat my mistake. I stumbled through it in total confusion but with a feeling I was missing something worthwhile ... so I researched the book, only to find that this is one of a series of books whose parts no doubt make a whole.So, probably it is true that these books (for children) should be read and enjoyed in sequence. Out of sequence, this book was a little too obscure for my taste. Unless, of course you like feeling just a tad stupid.