TERRY RUANE dips into new books for tots

Beetle in the Bathroom by Brian Moses and Sonia Holleyman (Puffin, £4.99)

A BRIGHT and colourful story well written and illustrated, it describes the adventures of a host of insects playing in the bathroom.

Told entirely in rhyme, most youngsters will enjoy this story being read to them.

The only downside is that you don't find out who wanted to come into the bathroom: was it a human or maybe another insect?

That's Not Fair, Hare! by Julie Sykes and Tim Warnes (Penguin, £10.99)

THIS is the traditional story of the tortoise and the hare with a twist. The two animals agree to race, because Hare doesn't want to share the cabbages in the farmer's field. Hare runs off and rests near the finish line.

Tortoise take his time and helps people on the way. As Tortoise nears the finish, the animals who he helps cheer and wake up Hare. Hare jumps up and wins the race. Hare wants all the food even though he would have lost if it wasn't for the other animals.

The two animals decide to race again, for the cabbages and the carrots in the field next door. The greedy Hare agrees and thinks he will win easily, "so where shall we race to?" says Hare. "Home," says Tortoise and on the shout of "go", Tortoise pulls his arms and legs into his shell and wins.

The Terrible Underpants by Kaz Cooke (Penguin, £9.99)

Wanda Linda gets dressed for school only to find she has no underpants.

When she can't find any she has to wear the terrible underpants that are dirty, baggy and have holes in them.

Dad says "no-one will notice" but of course everybody sees her pants.

The story is well written and very bright, and any story with the word underpants will make children laugh.

Mr McGee and the Biting Flea by Pamela Allen (Puffin, £4.99)

A BOOK written in rhyme about Mr McGee who goes out to fly his kite on the beach. A dog joins in the fun and a flea jumps from the dog onto Mr McGee.

So Mr McGee strips off all his clothes and jumps into the sea to rid himself of the flea. Bags of laughs.