A Hat for Minerva Louise

First things first: the eponymous hen, introduced in the 1988 book bearing her name, is a paragon of whimsy and charm. In a manner reminiscent of Charles Schulz's deceptively simple renderings of Snoopy, Stoeke invests her poultry protagonist with an abundance of character at the merest stroke of her pen. Here, the intrepid Minerva Louise ventures out of the henhouse on a crisp winter morning-``She wanted to stay out all day. But it was too cold.'' The search for suitable gear leads to several amusing cases of mistaken identity, until a pair of mittens is put to an ingenious (and thoroughly droll) use. As in the earlier book, Stoeke's colors are strong and clear, her shapes cleanly outlined and her text straightforward yet expressive. Hats off! Ages 2-6. (Sept.)