Kids into books: The new kid at school

Author: K.H. McMullan

Illustrator: Simon Clare

Publisher: Macmillan, $10.95

Age group: 7-10 years

He jammed one last spoonful of soup into his mouth. Then he burped. ``Ah! that's better. Now, my boy, I know some tales of mighty heroes. Would you care to hear one?''

``I would, indeed!'' Wiglaf exclaimed.

No one had ever told Wiglaf a tale before. Oh, Molwena sometimes told him what she would do to him if he did not wash the dishes.

And Fergus often told him how he was no use at all in the cabbage fields.

But those tales were not so much fun to hear.

Wiglaf settled down in the straw next to his pig to listen. The tale was indeed about a mighty hero. A hero who tried to slay a dragon named Gorzil.

When at last the minstrel came to the end, his voice dropped low.

* More tomorrow