The Slightly Irregular Fire Engine or The Hithering Thithering Djinn
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| Author | Donald Barthelme |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's literature |
| Publisher | Farrar, Straus & Giroux |
Publication date | August 27, 1971 |
| Publication place | United States |
The Slightly Irregular Fire Engine or The Hithering Thithering Djinn is a 1971 children's book written by Donald Barthelme. It tells the story of a girl who enters a magical house that appears in her backyard and the characters she meets inside.[1] Barthelme collected the visuals used in the book from 19th-century engravings and then constructed the story around the visuals.[2][3]
One morning in 1887, a young girl named Matilda awakens to find a miniature house has appeared magically in her backyard. As she approaches to look inside, the house expands large enough for her to enter. Hoping to find a fire engine toy, she is greeted at the entrance by two doormen. Inside, she meets a rainmaker, a pirate, and the titular djinn, who guides her through the house. Matilda leaves when she hears her nurse calling and asks if the house will be there tomorrow; the djinn says no, but he will leave her a gift before the house leaves. The next morning, Matilda finds a green Silsby fire engine in the yard.
