UNMENTIONABLE!

From a popular Australian writer, nine more stories in a follow-up to Uncanny! and Unreal! (both 1991). In ``Birdman,'' a scrofulous magic headpiece forces a bully to plunge his face into dung; Mr. Simpkin is trapped on ``The Velvet Throne'' in a public loo where graffiti comes true; ``Little Squirt'' finally wins a certain contest in the school restroom: ``Sam...blows his top. He hits the roof. But not in the same way that I do.'' Now and then, Jennings gets away from alimentary humor for effects macabre (a teenager compounding disasters when a magic ``Harmonica'' gets stuck in her mouth) and even tender (a clumsy ``Cry Baby'' helps his Grandpop find the elusive Water-Holding Frog). Broad plots, surprise endings, unsubtle humor, and just deserts all `round. (Short Stories. 11-13)