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The Search for Delicious by Babbitt, Natalie (2007) Paperback
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 25, 2023
I read this book to my daughters in the 80s many years ago on a road trip to the beach. I remembered it when I was getting ready for my book club presentation for The Dictionary of Lost Words which I've reviewed on Goodreads.
This book is a beautifully written fairy tale with a mermaid, some magical forest denizens, and dwarfs who live in a deep tunnel. To round out the tale there is a young pageboy at the court who is set out to poll the kingdom for the definition of "delicious " for the dictionary the king has ordered to be written. Throw in a power hungry brother in law of the king and add warring citizens who can not agree on a definition and you have a charming tale which is quite possibly an allegory for our world today.
This book is a beautifully written fairy tale with a mermaid, some magical forest denizens, and dwarfs who live in a deep tunnel. To round out the tale there is a young pageboy at the court who is set out to poll the kingdom for the definition of "delicious " for the dictionary the king has ordered to be written. Throw in a power hungry brother in law of the king and add warring citizens who can not agree on a definition and you have a charming tale which is quite possibly an allegory for our world today.
March 11, 2024
What a wonderful fairy tale - complete with a perilous journey, a kingdom in turmoil, and a sorrowful mermaid!
I’d only ever read Babbitt’s Tuck Everlasting, but this one is a winner as well.
I’d only ever read Babbitt’s Tuck Everlasting, but this one is a winner as well.
March 5, 2025
I loved the lore of the kingdom of men living amidst the more ancient dwarfs and "woldwellers." The story itself is charming and rings true to how humans start rumors and get into arguments about small issues, which soon turns out to be bigger concerns. The people Gaylen encounters are interesting and whimsical.
A few minor details do detract me (sorry I'm a detail-oriented person): Gaylen was a tad young to be riding off by himself to do the work of polling the people, through these towns and lands. But I'm sure there are more mature 12-year-olds who can take care of themselves?
Ardis makes her appearance rather late in the story. I found myself wanting to her to appear early on, like maybe halfway. But that probably wouldn't be possible for the plot.
Hemlock is only a mild villain, although he's built up to be worse than he is. He seems like a particularly argumentative and selfish man, but not much else. I would've like to see him more nuanced. I think my view may be tainted by villains who've populated other books that I've read, who are evil, psychopathic, or at least sociopathic.
A few minor details do detract me (sorry I'm a detail-oriented person): Gaylen was a tad young to be riding off by himself to do the work of polling the people, through these towns and lands. But I'm sure there are more mature 12-year-olds who can take care of themselves?
Ardis makes her appearance rather late in the story. I found myself wanting to her to appear early on, like maybe halfway. But that probably wouldn't be possible for the plot.
Hemlock is only a mild villain, although he's built up to be worse than he is. He seems like a particularly argumentative and selfish man, but not much else. I would've like to see him more nuanced. I think my view may be tainted by villains who've populated other books that I've read, who are evil, psychopathic, or at least sociopathic.
December 26, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I decided to read it because I've had it ever since I was a kid, but never read it. I haven't read any books in a while, so I thought this story would be a good gateway to get back to reading.
The Search for Delicious felt a lot like some of the fairy tales I would read as a kid, but slightly more drawn out. There wasn't much characterization per say, but in a book this short, I don't think it was too necessary and Mrs. Babbitt gives just enough to make these brief characters all feel like their own entities. I was particularly fond of the woldweller.
I loved that this book focused on a timeless lesson: A silly argument is often the basis for many serious problems. That, and the fact that nothing is permanent and things will often repeat themselves, when it comes to humans. It's a charming little story that really makes me want to read more of Natalie Babbitt's books. I may just have to start a Babbitt collection!
The Search for Delicious felt a lot like some of the fairy tales I would read as a kid, but slightly more drawn out. There wasn't much characterization per say, but in a book this short, I don't think it was too necessary and Mrs. Babbitt gives just enough to make these brief characters all feel like their own entities. I was particularly fond of the woldweller.
I loved that this book focused on a timeless lesson: A silly argument is often the basis for many serious problems. That, and the fact that nothing is permanent and things will often repeat themselves, when it comes to humans. It's a charming little story that really makes me want to read more of Natalie Babbitt's books. I may just have to start a Babbitt collection!
June 16, 2024
I found this a fairly enjoyable read-aloud due to the interesting descriptive language and the short chapters. I wouldn’t say character development was strong and I wasn’t attached to anyone, but the story doesn’t go terribly deep as a children’s novel anyhow. At times there was a lot going on to a degree where I wasn’t sure which plot lines to invest in, but overall it was fun to read with my daughter. Things came to a head and resolved a bit too quickly at the end and it was slightly anticlimactic, but I don’t think my daughter noticed. It wasn’t a hard read and my daughter enjoyed all the pieces coming together to complete the story.
My 9yo—I love this book because it has lots of mysteries and it’s magical.
My 9yo—I love this book because it has lots of mysteries and it’s magical.
November 4, 2023
This was a great read aloud. Simple and easy to read with colorful characters and compelling themes.
November 10, 2025
I read this when I was in 5th grade and decided now was a good time for a re read. Definitely fun magical and silly a great book to read in pieces before bed time.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews