The Animal Parade: A Collection of Stories and Poems

British author King-Smith, whose popular novels star comical animal heroes, has put together an anthology of his own favorite pieces--selections that provide ``everything a story should.'' Using excerpts from such classics as The Wind in the Willows and Black Beauty , King-Smith adds to the fun with his own twists on five Aesop fables, a few of his amusing cautionary verses and passages from his books. The diversity here makes this an ideal compendium for introducing readers to animal tales; a list at the book's conclusion offers the stories' sources and suggestions for further reading. With their becoming textures, Wild's softly muted pencil and watercolor drawings strike just the right note for this playful assortment. Readers will relish marching along to this stellar zoological parade. Ages 6-up. (Oct.)