I loved this book and Mio's fantastic adventures as a child and I still love re-reading it as an adult. 
As a child I was enchanted by the beautiful Farawayland and the heartwarming "Happy Ending" for Mio and his father, the King, who loves him so very much. 
As an adult, I realised that there is a powerful hidden message and no Happy Ending at all. That this is actually a heartbreaking story about a neglected and lonely little boy, sitting on a cold, dark parkbench, who dreams himself into a better world, where his father loves him and everyone is caring and friendly. 

This book should remind us, that there are too many children out there, who are neglected and lonely and it is our duty to look out for them.