Tattercoats

The farm children adore their scarecrow and name him Tattercoats, for his shabby clothing shows the wear of a season of guarding the cornfield. But after the harvest, when the children move indoors to play for the winter, Tattercoats is chilly with loneliness. The robin who flies by the house to report on Christmas activities taunts Tattercoats, and the hare makes fun of him for his single wobbly leg. When spring finally arrives, the children rediscover him and he is given a new suit of clothes and a promotion--to the kitchen garden where he can feel that he is a part of the action. The warmth of Watts's beautifully done illustrations is matched by a story rich with family love and caring. Ages 5-8. (Apr.)