Terror in the House

MORE DENNIS THE MENACE (64 pp.]--Hank Ketcham--Holt ($ I).

A four-year-old with a posterior no larger than the palm of an irate parent's hand is rapidly becoming the nation's most popular towhead. As a comic-strip character, Dennis the Menace is practically a member of the family for the readers of 200 U.S. newspapers. But this little one-man gang has also become something of a sensation between book covers. Dennis the Menace, published last September, has already sold close to 140,000 copies. Even a publisher could guess the sequel to that: More Dennis the Menace.

Dennis wears well, much better than the frayed tempers of his parents and the other unlucky grownups who have to deal with him. Not every youngster of four is original enough to throw rice pudding instead of rice as the newlyweds leave the church. And not too many grasp the basic economic facts of life so quickly. Says Dennis in answer to a slower kid's question: "Father's Day?. Well, it's just like Mother's Day, only you can buy a cheaper present."

If a poll were taken, it would probably show that Dennis' hottest fans are grownups. If he does nothing else, he makes mothers and fathers realize how lucky they are; Dennis might have been theirs. Dennis is fairly sure of a long life. After all, he can say and do what he likes; he has nothing to lose but his supper.

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