THE NEW BOY

Relations with his fellow kindergartners go from bad to worse after mouse Milton's unfortunate opening gambit: he sticks out his tongue. Repeated rejections lead to new pranks until a classmate's forthright judgment (``You're BAD'') causes a sudden turnaround and Milton becomes obnoxiously good. By the time the next new little animal joins the class, Milton has settled down; now it's Stanley's turn to be pronounced ``weird.'' It's not that simple in real life; still, Milton's troubles are all too familiar, and their easy, mildly humorous resolution may suggest some healthy behavior modification to children similarly afflicted. Keller's expressive, simply drawn illustrations lend additional appeal. Schwartz's Camper of the Week (below) provides a subtler, more perceptive treatment of similar themes. (Picture book. 4-7)