THE BEAR AND THE BIRD KING

A grumpy bear insults the ordinary-looking nestlings of the Bird King, occasioning a war between the beasts of the land and those of the air. The bloodless conflict is over before it begins, thanks to the slyness and subterfuge of the birds and their insect allies, but Byrd makes the slender tale seem momentous by filling his pages with hundreds of creatures in minutely detailed 18th- century costumes (a crocodile in a Napoleonic uniform; a flamingo in stovepipe hat, frock coat, and cravat). The Bird King's ruffled brood is mollified when the beleaguered bear finally apologizes, and the erstwhile enemies join in a sylvan revel lasting far into the night. The bear is last seen asleep, the birds roosting peacefully in his lap. A good-humored read-aloud with an age- appropriate message about how name-calling (and thin skins) can lead to ``sticks and stones'' (or in this case, swords and rapiers). (Folklore/Picture book. 4-7)