The Box of Delights

The Box of Delights is a sequel to The Midnight Folk (reviewed earlier) by John Masefield, the longtime poet laureate of England (I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky...)   Kay Harker is older now and returning home from school for the Christmas holidays.   He encounters an old, and rather odd, Punch and Judy man, who warns him that The Wolves are Running.  Commanding the Wolves and other servants of evil is Kay's old enemy, the wizard Abner Brown.  The illustrations in this lovely Folio edition are magical - and some of the story is also quite nice, though, like most sequels, this is not equal to the original in charm and adventure, though the language is still a pleasure.  Here's one nice quote, describing some truly odious pirates:

all bronzed with tropical suns, purple with drink, scarlet with battle, and bloated from evil living

Still more children's books? Really?

We seem not to have commented on The Mysterious Benedict Society series by Trenton Lee Stewart - I think I only read two of the three, but they were wonderfully fresh, funny, and extremely clever.  So I just saw The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict on the new books section of one of the best city libraries in the world, our own Cincinnati Public Library!  Well, this "prequel" is not so delightfully new, but, like a second trip to Italy, it's familiar and satisfying, while still offering pleasurable new discoveries.

On a completely different tack, I greatly enjoyed The Midnight Folk by John Masefield, former Poet Laureate of England (1930-67):

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a gray mist on the sea's face, and a gray dawn breaking.

The Midnight Folk tells the story of Kay Harker, a seven year old boy who seeks to recover a treasure stolen from his grandfather, to whom it had been entrusted. Kay is opposed by a coven of witches who are also seeking the treasure. One (big Spoiler!) is his governess! Kay finds clues through dreams that seem real and leave tangible residues upon waking. He is also befriended and aided by many talking animals, mermaids, and remarkable characters. One such is the fox, Rollicum Bitem, shown in the Folio edition picture above

I crept out of covert and what did I see?
Ow-ow-ow-diddle-ow!
But seven fat bunnies, each waiting for me.
With a poacher's noosey, catch the fat goosey,
Ho says Rollicum Bitem.

Really it's like a delightful mixture of Wind In the Willows, Treasure Island, and Fairy Tales. Quite charming!