I Need a Wee! By Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet (Simon and Schuster Children's Books)

"Charlotte, why are you wiggling? Do you need a wee?"

"No!"

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure!"

(20 mins from home, in the middle of nowhere, no loos to be seen, just as we're getting under way to our intended destination)

"I NEED A WEE!!"

Parents, you've all been there, right? Your little ones haven't quite mastered the lesson that Alan the adorable knitted bear learns the hard way in Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet's latest book "I Need a Wee!" Alan is so busy having fun at the fairground on the helter skelter that the very last thing he wants to do is pause for a tinkle. But his friends notice his frantic dancing, and haul him off towards the loos.

Alan is constantly distracted by other things. One more go on the helter skelter. A piece of cake from the penguin's party. Just one more balloon! But when Alan and friends finally get to the toilets, calamities, there's a huge queue!

A helpful dolly suggests that Alan can come round to her house to use the facilities, but dolly's toilet is too tiny.

Alan eyes up a monkey's tea pot but it's a tea pot, not a pee pot!! As for the magician's hat incident, the less said the better.

Poor Alan is wriggling fit to bust - and when his friends suggest he ducks behind a curtain to take care of business, Alan doesn't realise that he's on stage in front of hundreds of people, under the spotlight! OH NO!

We won't spoil the hilarious pay-off (or should that be pee-off) as the book draws to a close. I always feel slightly guilty for finding children's books that deal with bodily functions funny, but this is acutely well observed and Alan is just such a superstar (we LOVE him, even if he has a bladder the size of a Smartie!)

Now, if you'll excuse me, I knew I shouldn't have had that second cup of coffee...

Charlotte's best bit: Alan attempting to squat over a magician's hat, with hilarious results. Eeps!

Daddy's Favourite bit: We probably really shouldn't find this as funny as we did, but it is hilarious and we just couldn't stop laughing (thankfully we didn't giggle till we wet ourselves, at least!) Brilliant!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Simon and Schuster Children's Books)

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