The Read-To-Me Treasury

This ingratiating assortment of 14 short stories--most are six pages in length--is a welcome addition to the growing ranks of anthologies. Tony Ross's ``Things That Go Bump in the Day'' gets things off to a rollicking start: Foggy, a bored young ghost seeking new horizons, encounters a strange, yellow-haired, blue-eyed creature, but is reassured by his mother that ``there's no such thing as little girls.'' There are hopeful stories (an aspiring musician takes a giant step toward his goal in ``Sam Plays the Trumpet''), touching stories (a benign giant named ``Too Big'' is presented with an unusual gift by the people of his town) and stories that are downright, delightfully silly. Several familiar authors are represented (Michael Rosen, Ann Cameron, Dick King-Smith), and subtle lessons are interwoven throughout many of the tales. Goffe's cartoony illustrations--some full-page, others interspersed with the text--are consistently cheery and present a gallery of memorable characters. Bedtime will be a jolly experience with the aid of this sunny book. Ages 5-8. (June)