WATER BABIES

Tom, a poor orphan, is employed by the villainous chimney sweep Grimes to climb up inside flues to clear away the soot. While engaged in this dreadful task he loses his way and emerges in the bedroom of Ellie, the young daughter of the house, who mistakes him for a thief. He runs away and, hot and bothered, he slips into a cooling stream, falls asleep and becomes a Water Baby. In his new life he meets all sorts of aquatic creatures, including an engaging old lobster, other Water Babies, the fierce Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid and the motherly Mrs. Doasyouwouldbedoneby. After a long and arduous quest to the Other-End-Of-Nowhere, young Tom achieves his heart's desire. Paperback, 224pp.