Kids into books: The new kid at school

Author: K.H. McMullan

Illustrator: Simon Clare

Publisher: Macmillan, $10.95

Age group: 7-10 years

Twelve of these sons were big, beefy lads with greasy yellow hair like their father's. They scowled out the door at the minstrel shouting, ``Be gone! Be gone!''

But the third-eldest son, Wiglaf, was different from his brothers. He was small for his age. He had hair the colour of carrots.

And he could not bear to see any creature suffer.

When Fergus reached out to slam the door in the
shivering minstrel's face, Wiglaf grabbed his arm.

``Wait, Father!'' he said. ``Could not the minstrel sleep in the pigsty?''

``I sing songs and tell fortunes,'' the minstrel
offered.

``Songs? Fortunes?''Fergus growled. ``Pig
droppings!''

``I also chop wood, shovel snow, slop pigs, rake dung, scrub floors, and wash dishes,'' the minstrel added quickly.

``Oh, but we have Wiglaf to do all that,'' Molwena told him.

``Please!'' the minstrel begged through his chattering teeth. ``There must be something I can
do in return for a roof over my head.''

* Tomorrow: What Wiglaf won't do.