THE SMARTEST BEAR AND HIS BROTHER OLIVER

Not this bear,"" Ronald proclaims, echoing Bernice Meyers' far more quirky and endearing rebel, when Ma announces that they are all going to sleep through the winter. Dead set on proving that he is different from his tummy-stuffing brother Oliver, Ronald Bear determines to stay awake during hibernation season and read the entire encyclopedia (he is already up to ""L""). Most of this is taken up with Ronald's resistance to the stew, pudding, soup, tarts, flapjacks and sweet potato casserole with which Ma stuffs her family in preparation for their winter sleep. But when, just before settling down, the children are given their birthday presents--a bakery truck for Oliver and a typewriter for Ronald--Ronald is sufficiently assured of his distinction, and his parents' appreciation of it, to curl up under the quilts with the others. Kellogg gives his bears the same slurpy grins he gives his people; his fine brown line domestic scenes have a welcome, relaxed coziness. but you have to be as interested in food as Oliver is not to tire of the pictured activities.