Last year's sell-out success of Tiny the Tree Frog has inspired local artist Elizabeth Mulderig to produce another book of froggy adventures. Tiny Tours Bermuda's Ocean this week goes on sale throughout Bermuda.

Tiny, an instant hit with children in Bermuda, has now also materialised as a bright green cuddly toy -- and immediately recognisable in his hot pink shorts, straw hat and camera slung around his neck.

"In my first book, Tiny toured around the Island looking at all the sights, so this time around, I decided that Tiny should become an underwater tourist.

Snorkelling is a favourite hobby of mine, so I had no problem diving into this project.'' She has, in fact, been fascinated with the sea ("I'm a Pisces'') since she was a child.

"My friend, Moira, had a glass box that you could look through to see underwater, and she dared me to go in the caves below Admiralty House. I got about three feet in and suddenly saw a huge green moray eel. I was terrified and reversed out of there very, very fast.'' Tree frogs, she was soon to discover, don't normally leap into salt water, but Ms Mulderig is used to taking a little artistic licence in her stride: "Most of my art tends in that direction, in any case!'' It was curator Richard Winchell who pointed out, as he conducted her on a special guided tour round the Bermuda Aquarium, that in real life, these nocturnal `gleepers' are land-lubbers.

"I'm very grateful for all his help,'' she says. "He pointed out the different kinds of fish and gave me all sorts of details about Bermuda's underwater life.'' Tiny Tours Bermuda's Ocean follows the format of her first book, drawn and coloured in Ms Mulderig's imaginative and bright style. His various adventures are related in verse that is simple enough to appeal to children, and amusing enough to attract also, an adult readership.

During his extended swim, Tiny meets many denizens of the deep. A strong Bermudian twist is part of the book's special charm: We find that "a sergeant major/named Bubbles Bernard/Saluted to Tiny/While swimming on guard''.

Bermuda's kingdom under the sea is close to Elizabeth Mulderig's heart. Her first attempt at a children's book, which she called Albert and the Fat Fish, was motivated by her concern for the ocean environment. She was also commissioned to illustrate Bermuda Fire and Marine Insurance's 1990 calendar and for this, chose Bermuda's sea-shells.

"So I was very anxious to do this book,'' she admits. "I haven't really kept up with all the controversy over fish-pot bans, and so on, but I know that when I snorkelled as a child, there was so much more life underwater. A lot of it was being seriously depleted, so something had to be done. I really hope that this book will give children heightened awareness. After all, the future of Bermuda is in their hands -- they have to understand the importance of Bermuda's marine environment.'' She says that illustrating a story that takes place almost entirely underwater was a real challenge: "It was impossible to think up eighteen different shades and colours of water. I didn't want to make every page aquamarine!'' Ms Mulderig has overcome this problem by "zooming in'', like a close-up snapshot, on the terrain where shells and sea-fans, corals, grasses, wrecks and fishes rule under the waves.

There is a richly humorous side to much of Elizabeth Mulderig's artwork and, as with its predecessor, this book is extremely comical. Although Tiny has to leave his beloved camera on dry land, he wears trendy hot-pink and white swimming gear, there are purse-toting fish and a sea-horse decked out in pearls and a flowered hat. There is even a subtle tribute to her family.

"My brother Robert was the first one to take me deep-sea diving and I shall never forget my first sight of a wreck -- it was very mystical, and slightly frightening. In the picture of the sea turtles I've made one a professor (that's my other brother), the one in a tux is my father and I seem to remember my mother had an apron decorated with little fish.'' The book has been designed by long-time friend, David Conrad, who was a fellow student and recipient of their highest award at the Dutera School of Art in Boston.

"He's coming here for the launch of the book. He's visited Bermuda several times. I wanted him to go snorkelling, but I made the big mistake of telling him that a friend of mine had been covered with shark-suckers in Harrington Sound, so I'm afraid that put him off!'' Ms Mulderig, who divides her time between New York and Bermuda, works at her art from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. "It took me about three months to complete the pictures and about two weeks to write the verses -- but, of course, it had to be edited so that took about a month.'' There has been a lot of encouragement, she says, to do this second book.

"Last Christmas, I was signing books at Cooper's and a lady named Mrs.

Butterfield wanted to be sure I'd do a sequel, so she gave me a $5 down payment for the second book. So, Mrs. Butterfield, wherever you are, your book is ready, and it will only be $10 for you!'' Tiny Tours Bermuda's Ocean, published by The Bermuda Publishing Company Ltd., will be launched at A.S. Cooper & Sons Ltd. this Saturday, when Elizabeth will be signing copies for the entire day. It will also be on sale at book, gift and department stores throughout the Island. Retail price is $15, Tiny the toy is $21.95 and the two are also sold as a package for $35.

UNDERWATER SIGHTSEEING -- Tiny the tree frog takes a ride on a swinging seahorse.

DOWN UNDER -- A close-up of Tiny's tootsies as he paddles through a school of fish.

TINY'S CREATOR -- Elizabeth Mulderig.