Chips and Jessie

Good buddies Chips and Jessie star in these five stories, and as in Hughes's Alfie stories, the friends and their neighbors are true to life. ""The By-gone Fox'' is actually a fox scarf, accidentally put on a pile of ``by-gones'' (cast-offs) at the church bazaar. Chips sells the fur to help his mum and gets in big trouble when its irate owner misses it. Thinking fast, Jessie saves the day, earning praise from the vicar and luscious treats as well for sharing with Chips. Kibitzing pets, especially Jessie's snooty cat, enhance each suspenseful and funny tale. (7-9)