Once in a rare while, a book crosses my desk leaving me feeling that it deserves the widest possible circulation. The Number Devil is that once in a while book.

First: It's a family book. While aimed at a young audience, readers of any age from the precocious 6-year old on up can appreciate it.

Second: This is a book that lends itself to group reading, group discussion and group enjoyment. In fact, it's the ideal book to take along on that long trip with a child who has even a modicum of curiosity about the world of numbers.

Third: It was written specifically for those of us who either fear or hate mathematics, but will still endear itself to those who find the subject fascinating.

Fourth: While the text alone is worth the price of the book, the illustrations are the frosting on the cake. Superb! Unlike many illustrations which distract, these charming ones add to the text, help the reader over the rare rough spots, and just generally make all those numbers come to life.

The theme of the book is the twelve-year-old who is suffering through a math class. He dreams of a number devil that unravels the magic of numbers for him, using everything from rabbits to chewing gum.

Enzensberger occasionally slips when he tries too hard to tie numbers to things (e.g. you can infinitely divide a number, but you can't infinitely divide a substance, not even chewing gum.) But such glitches are really nothing more than warts on a mountain side. Buy this book. Read this book. If you have a child who dislikes math, roam with her/him though the magic land of the number devil. With wonderful illustrations by Rotraut Susanne Berner. Highly recommended.