STOPPING FOR A SPELL

Three stories, each with several chapters, whose remarkable comic events turn on magic. A garish old armchair comes to life as ``Chair Person''—a garrulous autocrat who knows only what he's seen on TV and whose bossiness is a nightmarish parody of neighbor ``Aunt Christa,'' forever pressing the Chair Person's nice family into onerous tasks. ``Who Got Rid of Angus Flint?''- -an uninvited guest who's even more obnoxious than Aunt Christa and her alter ego—also involves furniture, this time animated by rage at the tyrannical Flint's insults toward everyone and everything: a vengeful mob led by the grand piano, baring its fierce keys, forcibly evict him. And in the third tale, ``Four Grannies'' with satirically contrasted temperaments try to care for two stepsiblings; the biggest joke here is on young inventor Erg, who's been instrumental in causing hilarious mayhem—but not by the means he imagines. As usual, Jones's sly wit and irrepressible imagination are a delight—in fast-moving, easily read, laugh-aloud stories. Illustrations not seen. (Fiction. 8- 12)