Millions of children have been lulled to sleep by this classicbedtime tale. Now paired with a cuddly plush bunny, it is theperfect way to say "goodnight."

PreSchool-K ``Oh Dear!'' is young Buster's response each time thathis search for eggs on his grandmother's farm is futile. Thepattern is the same throughout his search: he looks in the barn, orsty, or pond, where a flap can be lifted to reveal the animal thatlives there, making the sound associated with it. The animal is notlabeled, so young listeners are called upon to make theidentification themselves. When Buster finally tries the henhouse,a second flap reveals the eggs beneath the hen. The book has anattractive, open look, with much white space and clear, large type.The animals and farmyard scenes are large, simple forms in brightcolors. Unfortunately, Buster and his grandmother are doll-like intheir circle heads, dot eyes, and red-spotted cheeks, and do nothold the same appeal. Lift-the-flap books are a gimmick thatchildren love, but these flaps are particularly fragile, and eachis hinged in a different place. Eager hands tugging at them willeasily result in a cry of ``Oh dear!'' before too long. David

Mr. Renny's paintings are so good that they almost appearreal. But no one seems to pay them any attention until a strangeman offers to make everything that Mr. Renny paints come to life.First there's the painting of the apple, which Mr. Renny can noweat. Then there's a huge hotdog, a new car, a cruise liner... Mr.Renny paints himself a life of luxury until his friend Rose comesto ask if she can buy one of his paintings. But he doesn't have anyreal paintings left! The spell must be broken and soon! A bookcontaining subtle references to the work of Belgian surrealist RenMagritte, the illustrations are full of clever and amusingdetails.

1 lion, 2 hippos, 3 dolphins...and an infinity of numberfun! Little Critter has an adventure in counting at the zoo when hemeets 4 toothy crocodiles, 5 playful seals, 6 brown bears, andother delightful animals-all the way up to 10 entertainingpenguins.

Kids will love to eat through 16 different types of food with the very hungry caterpillar! With giant stickers that are perfect for little hands, this book is the perfect choice for kids just learning their numbers. Counting has never made you hungrier!

Mice, a rottweiler, an arachnid and a few other assorted critters make sturdy reappearances in five board book versions of picture books. In Ellen Stoll Walsh's Mouse Paint, "three white mice on a white piece of paper" enjoy a colorful romp, while in Walsh's Mouse Count a similar gaggle narrowly escapes being served for dinner (Harcourt/Red Wagon, $6 each, 28p, ages 1-3 ISBN 0-15-200265-0; -200266-9 Sept.). Yet another mouse searches the animal kingdom for companionship?and finds an unexpected respondent?in Eric Carle's Do You Want to Be My Friend? (HarperFestival, $6.95, 32p, ages 2-6, ISBN 0-694-00709-9 Sept.). The rewards of industriousness are celebrated in a second Carle title, The Very Busy Spider; its embossed web brings a tactile dimension to his familiar collage artwork (Philomel, $9.95, 26p, ages 2-up ISBN 0-399-22919-1 Aug.). Finally, the canine in question is Alexandra Day's beloved Carl, who takes charge of a crew of toddlers in Carl Goes to Day Care (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, $5.95, ages 1-3 ISBN