TAILS OF THE BRONX

Another charming, comical story from the author of the Buffalo Brenda (1989). As forest-ranger manquÇ Loretta Bernstein describes it, her Bronx block is a haven of grown-ups committed to keeping their neighborhood together and their kids safe. Since the kids share this group spirit, they join together to find out why neighborhood cats are beginning to disappear. The answer lies in ``the witch's house,'' now found to contain a young actress who has dressed as a witch to protect herself and her property. Another mystery surfaces: Who's stealing the garbage? This time, the more complicated problems of the homeless are involved. The slight, rather didactic plot is less important than the memorable (if broad) characterizations and well-realized atmosphere; best are Loretta's entertaining narration and the dialogue's machine-gun wit. For once, an upbeat urban story. (Fiction. 8-12)