Ease Reading-Find Your Next Favorite Book

Hot Search

The Search for Delicious

natalie babbitt

... Show More
The Prime Minister is compiling a dictionary, and when no one at court can agree on the meaning of "delicious," the King sends his twelve-year-old messenger, Gaylan, to poll the citizenry. Gaylan soon discovers that the entire kingdom is on the brink of civil war, and must enlist help to define "delicious" and save the country.

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1,1969

This edition

Format
176 pages, Paperback
Published
April 8, 2005 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
ISBN
9780374465360
ASIN
0374465363
Language
English
Characters More characters

More editions

About the author

Profile Image for natalie babbitt

natalie babbitt

... Show More
Natalie Zane Babbitt was an American writer and illustrator of children's books. Her 1975 novel, Tuck Everlasting, was adapted into two feature films and a Broadway musical. She received the Newbery Honor and Christopher Award, and was the U.S. nominee for the biennial international Hans Christian Andersen Award in 1982.

Readers also enjoyed

Community Reviews

Rating(4.1 / 5.0, 100 votes)
5 stars
40(40%)
4 stars
32(32%)
3 stars
28(28%)
2 stars
0(0%)
1 stars
0(0%)
100 reviews All reviews
Profile Image for Kimberly .
Mayuka
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
... Show More

Yeah, water is truly the most delicious thing in the world when one is on the brink of dying of dehydration. It's that precious liquid that can bring life back.

However, when it comes to a more light-hearted and perhaps not so life-or-death situation, there are many other contenders for the title of the most delicious thing. And for me, that would be chocolate.

Chocolate has this magical allure. Its smooth texture, rich flavor, and the way it melts in your mouth can simply make your day. Whether it's dark chocolate with its intense cocoa flavor, milk chocolate with its creamy sweetness, or white chocolate with its unique charm, there's a type of chocolate for everyone.

It can be enjoyed on its own, added to desserts, or even used to make a warm and comforting cup of hot chocolate. So, while water is essential for survival, chocolate definitely holds a special place in my heart as one of the most delicious things in the world.

0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
ModusOperandi
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
... Show More
I didn't realize how much I was hankering for a good old-fashioned fairy tale until I started reading this book. There was so much I loved about "The Search for Delicious."


The story begins with a captivating description of a time when the earth was young. It was a time before people arrived, before they dug up and cut off parts of the earth. People came much later, building towns and castles that often fell down, and causing quarrels and supper parties. But in that early time, the creatures who lived on the earth stayed in their own places and kept it beautiful. There were dwarfs in the mountains, woldwellers in the forests, mermaids in the lakes, and winds in the air.


As I read on, I learned an important lesson. Delicious is sometimes more about who you are sharing the experience with rather than what you are eating. This simple yet profound realization added another layer of depth to the story for me.


Overall, "The Search for Delicious" is a charming and engaging fairy tale that takes readers on a journey filled with magic, adventure, and valuable life lessons. It's a book that I would highly recommend to anyone who loves a good story.

0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
nouhr99
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
... Show More
Felt nice to read something nice.

I'm biased since I loved this book as a kid. However, I firmly believe that it's still extremely sweet and cute.

This book holds a special place in my heart. The story within its pages is like a warm hug on a cold day.

Even though I've grown up, the charm of this book has not faded. It continues to bring a smile to my face and a sense of joy to my heart.

The characters are endearing, and the plot is engaging. It's a book that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages.

Whether you're a child looking for a fun adventure or an adult seeking a bit of nostalgia, this book has something for everyone.

I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good story filled with sweetness and cuteness.

Give it a read, and I'm sure you'll fall in love with it just like I did.

0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
FallenAngel18
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
... Show More
Nice little fantasy story!

It has simple good characters (mostly), an evil one, and those who are indifferent to humans.

The indifferent characters are all the timeless non-human ones: the woldweller in the trees, the dwarves, the winds, and the mermaid.

They are by far the most interesting, both in themselves and in their impact on the story.

The story revolves around the King's attempt to have a universally-agreed example of "delicious".

No two people agree, however, and it leads to civil war.

As a theme, the pointlessness of human conflict is played out very nicely.

The story's resolution is effective, appropriate, and caught me by surprise.

It makes one think about how often humans fight over things that may not be as important as they seem.

The non-human characters add an element of mystery and wonder to the story.

Overall, it's a charming and engaging little tale that is well worth reading.
0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
zombihead1
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
... Show More

Rounded to 4 because I truly love the author’s unique style and this particular book has a really good theme to it.


The author is indeed such a whimsical writer. There are so many interesting elements incorporated into this story!


Obviously, being a kids book, there isn't an extremely huge amount of depth. There were some silly parts, but I really appreciated the almost fairytale-like vibe that it gave off! And it shows in a very real way how things can quickly escalate and rumors can start over the most ridiculous things.


Adis was absolutely adorable and the minstrel and the dwarves made me really happy.


This wasn't my absolute favorite of the author’s works, but it still makes me have a strong desire to read more!


Yay for a great score at the library book sale!

0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
aloeverra
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
... Show More
My cousin had a really great idea.

She decided to read this aloud as an audiobook.

This was such a wonderful thing to do because it meant that my kids could hear it.

And let me tell you, they absolutely loved it.

It was like a magical experience for them.

They were completely engrossed in the story, listening intently to every word.

As for me, I also loved it.

I thought it was a brilliant idea of my cousin's.

It not only entertained the kids but also brought us all together in a really special way.

We laughed, we cried, and we had a great time sharing this story.

Thanks to my cousin's creativity, we now have a precious memory that we will cherish for a long time.

It just goes to show how a simple act like reading aloud can have such a big impact.

We are so grateful to my cousin for this amazing gift.

0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
RobertoP1
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
... Show More

"Good luck, Gaylen," said the old man with a warm smile. "And I'll send my cockatoo after you with the news each Wednesday and Saturday."


Gaylen nodded, a hint of excitement in his eyes. He was about to embark on a new adventure, and the thought of staying connected with the old man through the cockatoo's messages made him feel a little less alone.


The cockatoo, perched on the old man's shoulder, squawked loudly as if to affirm its role in this arrangement. It was a beautiful bird with vibrant feathers and a mischievous personality.


As Gaylen prepared to leave, he couldn't help but wonder what kind of news the cockatoo would bring him. Would it be tales of the old man's daily life, or perhaps some interesting tidbits from the village?


With a final wave, Gaylen set off, looking forward to the future and the messages that would arrive from the cockatoo. He knew that no matter what, those messages would be a welcome connection to the place he was leaving behind.

0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
Hachiman2424
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
... Show More
I discovered this book on the shelf of the adult section during my library book sale. "The Search for Delicious" was penned way back in 1967. I was merely one year old at that time. I'm quite certain that I would have recalled reading it when I was a girl, as this book is tailored for elementary school children. How on earth did I miss it? Ugh.



You know you're a remarkable storyteller when an elementary school chapter book can charm an adult! That's me! Well, the adult, not the storyteller – LOL. I initiated "The Search of Delicious" last night and only managed to reach page 24 (I was simply too fatigued to read more). With today being a dismal rainy (more like pouring. After all, I reside in Florida) day, I dedicated my day to fulfilling my house chores on my “To Do List” while simultaneously completing this book. I found the story truly captivating, with an outstanding message underlying it, and moreover, I was eager to know how it would conclude.


The Prime Minister is in the process of writing the dictionary. He arrives at the word “Delicious”, and that's precisely when all the turmoil commences. The King proclaims that “everyone knew the most delicious thing is an apple”, the Queen asserts that it's Christmas pudding, the General of the Armies concurs that it's a mug of beer, and someone else contends that it's fried fish.


Consequently, the King dispatches 12-year-old Gaylen, who is the adopted son and also the assistant of the Prime Minister, on a journey as the King’s Messenger to conduct a survey among all the kingdom’s residents, inquiring of each one what their favorite food is. And as anticipated, no two individuals have the same response. He has two months to accomplish this task. During this journey, aside from Gaylen interviewing each resident, he also encounters a woldweller, a wise 900-year-old creature, Dwarfs, a mermaid, and of course, there is a villain who is attempting to deceive all the people into believing that the King is going to eliminate all the foods they cherish the most, so that he can ascend to the throne as the new King.


It was a straightforward story, yet executed brilliantly such that it can be relished by both children and adults alike.

0 0 Reply
Leave a Review
You must be logged in to rate and post a review. Register an account to get started.