Ever woken up in the night grabbing out for a book that hovers just outside your memory? One reader found himself so frustrated that he wrote in to us asking for help, but the combined brainpower of the books desk has failed to bring title or author any closer. So we are throwing ourselves on the collective memory of you, the reader.

The clues, supplied by our correspondent, are as follows:

"When I was a young lad (some forty odd years ago) I read a fantastic book which I would like my grandchildren to read. Sadly, suffering from oldtimers' disease, I can only remember the broad outline of the book. It was the story of a young boy (who may have been called Adam) who was a real magician. He decided to travel to the Land of the Magicians to meet other magicians. But the Land of the Magicians was filled with tricksters who, when Adam(?) performed his real magic, wanted to learn his secret. The only other details I remember were Adam(?) making a rose grow from his staff and making it rain money as he was being persued by an angry mob."

Anyone who can help will be rewarded by making one grandfather, and his grandchildren, very happy.