This story about a lamb is an odd combination of wit and gentle brutality to spellbind the young, and a comment on human nature to puzzle their parents. Ophelia, who disobeys her mother to visit the woods, is chased by the fox until her friend the bird comes along and kills it. Despite protestations, all at home think Ophelia did it, until Ophelia herself comes to believe it too. Evaline Ness' color pictures of elongated, human-looking animals express in their flimsiness, a searching quality. Original. Perishable.