Mr Archimedes' Bath by Pamela Allen (Picture Puffin)

Here's a golden oldie that teaches children a little science while entertaining them with a fun and original story. Eureka!

Mr Archimedes is a bit of an eccentric old soul. Every bath time, he rounds up all his animals and they all climb into the tub together. They slosh water everywhere, make a huge mess and it's horribly uncomfortable.

After flooding his bathroom for the umpteenth time, Mr Archimedes has had enough and tries to figure out which animal is causing the bath to overflow. Each time, he runs a little water into the tub, leaves out an animal - but the results are still the same. The water level rises, and it's time to reach for the mop.

Pamela Allen's gentle storytelling skills underpin a great opportunity to play "Mr Archimedes" as a children's activity (though you might want to do this in better weather, when you can use a washing up bowl in the garden and some plastic farm animals rather than rounding up the family pets and ruining your own bathroom!)

Great fun, and lovely to rediscover this one in our library.

Charlotte's best bit: "It's all goat's fault!" - or is it?

Daddy's Favourite bit: "Eureka!" Shouted Mr Archimedes!