Book Two in the Magic Thief series begins where the last one left off. Young Conn, once a pickpocket, now a wizard's apprentice, is helping his master, Nevery, with the strange goings-on in Wellmet, including an unexplained weakening of the city's magic. New readers may feel disoriented, but happily the illustrated book has excellent back matter featuring people and places, which will help them get up to speed. In this story, some of the action shifts to the desert city Desh, where shadowmen who may be responsible for terrorizing Wellmet reside. Compact yet exciting fare for younger fantasy fans.

A bear, bewildered to find himself lost in the big city, is befriended by a young boy. When a long bus ride returns a joyous bear to his home, the boy realizes he is now lost in the forest. In a perfect conclusion to a simple story of friendship and adventure, the boy and the bear head back to the city together.

PreS-Gr 2-- A great brown bear falls asleep inside a snack truck and awakes to find himself lost in the big city. A small boy comes to the rescue, helping him search for the bear's home--a place with trees and water. Their quest takes them around the city, and they end their day in the library where they ``can find out anything.'' Success! The bear recognizes a picture of his home; a quick look at a map marks the spot. After a long ride on an outbound bus, boy and bear find themselves among the quiet, towering trees. As the grateful brown fellow disappears into the woods, the boy realizes that he is now lost, and the bear returns to help him find his home. The characters, introduced in The Bear's Toothache (Joy Street, 1972), will delight fans with their return. The splendid story will satisfy beginning readers who will find the text manageable; it also succeeds as a read-aloud. Splashed with full-color illustrations and enriched with tones of violet, the book has strong eye appeal. McPhail retains his characteristic style, but is generous with both color and shading, giving each frame a complete background. --Virginia E. Jeschelnig,