Happy Hollow Stories, Book 3

This friendly collection of stories about the lives of animals in Maine offers a (not entirely smooth) blend of fact and fiction. Explanations of the traits of wildlife are worked into the stories: a flying squirrel's near-miss with a marten includes a quick note on his flaps of skin and how he glides from branch to branch; a kingfisher's tender inquiry as to a loon's well-being is interrupted with ``A belted kingfisher can hover in the air like a hummingbird or a sparrow hawk.'' Nevertheless, young nature enthusiasts will glean these facts fairly painlessly, for Goodrich gives generously of her knowledge of the fauna of the northeastern woods. No ages given. (Feb.)