["The Sword in the Stone" is] a crazy cross between, or among, "Stalky & Co.," "Alice in Wonderland," "The Wind in the Willows," "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court," and the creations of Walt Disney. Hearing no voices to the contrary, I assume I make myself perfectly clear.

"The Sword in the Stone" is about medieval England, a young boy called the Wart, his slightly older playmate Kay, his eccentric tutor Merlin; and an odd collection of other characters…. The Wart (really the boy Arthur, you know) goes through a variety of experiences, chivalric or magical, the result of which is to make him fit to assume the kingship. (You remember from your Malory the beautiful legend of the sword that only the innocent and unwitting young Arthur could dislodge.)

The best parts of the book deal with such matters as falconry—about which Mr. White knows everything...