The Great Quillow by James Thurber (1994, Illustrated, Reinforced Hardcover)

Like his friend and cohort E.B. White (Charlotte's Web), Thurber imbued his children's stories with enough depth to make them accessible, even enjoyable, for adults.

I rank 'Quillow' up with Tolkien's 'Farmer Giles of Ham' in terms of story and character. A fun read, the stories both bring out what the true nature of heroes: that often their heroics are almost accidental. What makes a person stand out from the crowd is simply the fact that they don't follow the crowd, and choose their own paths, often with heroic (and humorous) results.

A great read for parents and kids.