Spectacles

The second in the Goblin Tale series is the distinguished author's first book for children. At devising a ""contemporary story of the unexplained,'' Beattie is not entirely successful, even discounting the dangling phrase (``Looking down, the stairs seemed . . .'') copied on the book jacket from the text. The plot is based on Alison's experiences on her birthday. The little girl's presents are grand and so is the party, although her great-grandmother falls ill and has to stay in bed. Alison wears the ailing lady's eyeglasses that night and witnesses events in the distant past, when her great-grandmother was young and courted by the man she accepted. There is a flatness in the telling, except for the appealing poems that lighten the text at intervals. The illustrations by Pels are also disappointing. Although technically impressive, they are dim; the colors are drab as though poorly reproduced. (813)