Goose and the Mountain Lion

When Goose hears the other farm animals talking about a mountain lion, she worries lest it suddenly fancy a spot of goose for supper. However, the invader seems more interested in Goose's offspring, for next morning one of her ``clutch of four creamy-white eggs'' has disappeared. That night the goat stands guard but another egg goes missing, until one by one all the farm animals have stood sentinel and all the eggs have vanished. The story's humor is conveyed by the illustrations, which show a tiny pack rat hoisting the eggs into a wagon while the guards scan the horizon for lions. Following in the footsteps of Aesop's tales, the well-paced narrative hums with wry amusement as it demonstrates the dangers of blinkered vision. The deftly sketched artwork, detailed down to the last hair, is somewhat less subtle; the animals bedecked in ribbons and bonnets do little to complement the text. Ages 5-up. (Apr.)