looking for a children's book published in the 1960's or 70's a group
of children have go (can't remember why)onto the property of a mean
woman (named something like Mrs Fink) This woman has a mean cat and
grows crabapples.Children find womans husband (a mail carrier I
think)who had amnesia and was posing as a scarecrow.After husband
returns woman becomes nice and everybody eats some crabapple pie.

Hello.

Your book was probably "Crabapple Night" (1971) by Jan Wahl.

From abebooks.com:

" Three children seek revenge on a grouchy lady they believe poisoned their dog."
http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=205626329&searchurl=bx%3Doff%26sts%3Dt%26ds%3D30%26bi%3D0%26y%3D0%26yrl%3D1960%26kn%3Dcrabapples%26x%3D0%26sortby%3D2%26yrh%3D1980


Consistent with your description, the cover illustration includes a scarecrow.


Additional copies are available on amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0030862396/
Or ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Crabapple-Night-Jan-Wahl-1971-Illustrated_W0QQitemZ8029842652QQihZ019QQcategoryZ279QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

---------
search strategy:
abebooks.com keyword: crabapple

I hope this helps.

---

Clarification of Answer by juggler-ga on 29 Oct 2006 16:20 PST

Just a little more information...

I have verified that the old lady in "Crabapple Night" is named
"Louella Fink."  Thus, I am 100% sure that "Crabapple Night" (1971) by
Jan Wahl is the book that you remember.

That's the book thank you so much, I've already got it ordered for my daughter!

Thank you for the tip.
-juggler