ARNOLD, Marsha Diane

A bear's red wool scarf is carried off by a strong gust of wind ("Lost"). Two quarrelsome raccoons spy the scarf lying in the snow ("Found"); they get into a tiff and run off squabbling, leaving the scarf behind ("Lost"). Next, a beaver finds it and dons the scarf as headgear…until it's snagged by a low-hanging branch and lost again. With one of the two title words on most pages (there are also some well-placed wordless pages), this effectively paced story plays out in Cordell's lively but spare pen-and-ink and watercolor pictures (occasional silly sound effects included). The book invites participation, and young listeners will quickly catch on to the narrative pattern. The scarf is found and lost five more times by various woodland creatures who tug, pull, squeeze, swing on, jump on, and brawl over it. It's at this point that the rightful owner re-enters the story: the bear finds the scarf completely unraveled but doesn't lose hope. Along with some contrite-looking critters, the bear gathers the yarn and knits a new scarf, one that brings everyone together