THE WINTER BEAR

Three children dress for a winter walk--boots, sweaters, shoes, hats--and Erik Blegvad shows them as disgruntled as anyone just starting to struggle with buttons has a right to be. What they find on their outing, on the top of a hedge, is a brown knitted bear (""knitted with care. . . . In need of repair"") which they rush home ""to a warm friendly place."" And that's what we have here, an event so small you could pass it right by, but so warm and friendly you're glad you stopped.