To Léon Werth I ask the indulgence of the children who may read this book for dedicating it to a grown-up. I have a serious reason:he is the best friend I have in the world. I have another reason: this grown-up understands everything, even books about children. I have a third reason: he lives in France where he is hungry and cold. He needs cheering up. If all these reasons are not enough, I will dedicate the book to the child from whom this grown-up grew. All grown-ups were once children—although few of them remember it. And so I correct my dedication: To Léon Werth when he was a little boy 献给列翁·维尔特 请孩子们原谅我把这本书献给一位大人。我有这样做的充分理由：这位大人是我最要好的朋友。我还有另一个理由：这位大人什么都懂，他完全能理解写给孩子们阅读的书籍。我还有第三个理由：这位大人住在法国，正处在饥寒交迫中，他需要别人的安慰。要是你们认为这些理由还不充分，那我就把这本书献给小时候的他吧——所有的大人都经历过童年。（但很少有大人记得自己曾是孩子。）因此，我把我的献词改为： 献给从…