PLEASANT FIELDMOUSE

Here are six for the story-a-night set. Pleasant is a well-named field-mouse for he is thoroughly pleasant. His enthusiasms involve him completely -- nether he is a volunteer fireman, a host at a picnic or a rose fancier. His forest is full of such intriguing neighbors as-- Never-Doubting Frog whose conversation consists of ""Great! Great!""; ""Haunted Beaver (followed constantly day and night by a whirring, lovesick bee)""; and the dithering Mrs. Worry-Wind Hedgehog. The villains of the forest are Tired Fox and Terrible Owl, whose decision to dine on Mrs. Hedgehog allow Pleasant one of his most pleasantly heroic moments. Sendak's illustrations are handsomely drawn and excellent conceptions-- his animals are neither overdressed, nor are their homes overfurnished. It would be hard to pick the best story in this half dozen. The successfully fulfilled comic intent supported by the worded text and the fey illustrations should make this a favorite of adults who will be asked to read it and show it again.