Fattypuffs & Thinifers (Patapoufs et Filifers) – Andre Maurois

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I first encountered this book as a kid, lurking on the bookshelves at The Davids – family friends who also introduced Tom and me to Richard Scarry and Josephine Tey (and Jacob’s Sheep and Laphroaig).

Short enough for an under-10 to read over a weekend, and deceptively categorised as a ‘children’s novel’, this slim (5mm) gem of a story (with great illustrations by Fritz Wegner) is a gentle lesson in tolerance and co-existance, between individuals and families, nations and races.

One to read, read and read again – to yourself and to nephews and neices – in fact any ‘kid’ of any age you know.

I’ve still got my (battered) copy, 45p RRP and still going strong if you want to borrow it……