Arthur and the Purple Panic

To lie in your bath and have a purple face, tongue sticking out, peering at you through the lace curtains is not amusing. If you are Queen Victoria and the face is that of Nelson on his column at the other end of the Mall then you are certainly not amused. The reader however is, Alan Coren continues his stories of Arthur, the schoolboy who difficult cases. Now he pursues and captures the mysterious vandal who is painting all England's greatest monuments purple and leaving behind contemptuous messages. The Arthur books are always favourites. Children recognise that they do not have to be very accomplished readers to complete a whole book so the young and less able find them very acceptable. At the same time older children with a developed sense of humour recognise Alan Coren's skill as he parodies any cliche ever spoken or written. Young readers thus become older connoisseurs. There should be a ready market in the bookshop. Add one to the library collection as well.