OLLIE KNOWS EVERYTHING

Ollie is Herbert's brother; and when the O'Hare family flies to New York for a vacation, the younger bunny finds his superior knowledge (how to fasten a seatbelt, read a menu, or open his eyes underwater in the hotel pool) particularly grating. When Ollie is separated from the others on the subway, Herbert's first reaction—``Can I be the oldest now?''—soon gives way to anxiety. Fortunately, Ollie's smarts are real; he finds his own way back to the hotel, where Herbert and his worried parents are equally glad to see him. Even Ollie is mellowed by his experience, and offers to teach Herbert to open his eyes underwater. The scenario here is familiar but its development is unusually imaginative, with amusing dialogue deftly revealing characters' feelings, the two brothers' rivalry adding interest to the city tour, real suspense, and a satisfying outcome. Munsinger's animals are marvelous caricatures of human types, at once incisive and sympathetic; her subway scenes, with a multitude of species reluctantly pressing together, are a delight. (Picture book. 4-8)