help finding a book

I am looking for a book that my father read to me as a child.  All I
remember about it is that they were sitting under an amfalula
tree(phoenetically spelled).  I don't think it is a Dr. Seuss book. 
It is an older book.  My father remembers it having a lot of neat
sounding words.  He read it in the early '90's.

I am trying to find it for him for a Christmas gift to read to his
grandchildren.

Thank you.
Buffi