i ask the indulgence of the children who may read this book for dedicating it to a grown-up. i have a serious reason: he is the best friend i have in the world. i have another reason: this grown-up understands everything, even books about children. i have a third reason: he lives in france where he is hungry and cold. he needs cheering up. if all these reasons are not enough, i will dedicate the book to the child from whom this grown-up grew. all grown-ups were once children-- although few of them remember it. and so i correct my dedication:

when he was a little boy

我请孩子们原谅我把这本书献给了一个大人。我有一个很重要的理由：这个大人是我在世界上最好的朋友。我还有另一个理由：这个大人他什么都能懂，甚至给孩子 们写的书他也能懂。我的第三个理由是：这个大人住在法国，他在那里挨饿、受冻。他很需要安慰。如果这些理由还不够的话，那么我愿意把这本书献给儿童时代的 这个大人。所有的大人都曾经是孩子。（可惜，只有很少的一些大人记得这一点。）因此，我就把献词改为：

献给还是小男孩时的列翁.维尔特