Growing Up Isn't Hard to Do If You Start Out As a Kid: Children's Candid Views of Everyday Life - Hardcover

Hundreds of children, ages four to ten, answer questions on many varied subjects. Their answers may bring delight, convulsive laughter, or even tears (e.g., "What Exactly Is Marriage?: 'I seen that old movie where they said that love means that you never say you're sorry. I think that's stupid . . . I'd rather say I was sorry any day than get married to some dumb girl.' " or "In What Ways Are Children and Adults Alike?: 'Both can get lint in their belly buttons.' "). The author, a noted child psychologist whose writings incude The Children's God ( LJ 5/15/86), presents a heartwarming book to be read by adults in bits and pieces on stress-filled days for a quick return to the basic premises of life. It may remind "fortysomethings" of Art Linkletter's book Kids Say the Darndest Things! ( LJ 10/15/57) and television show of the same name.
- Annelle R. Huggins, Mem phis State Univ . Libs.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The author of Dear God: Children's Letters to God here collects a humorous and insightful miscellany of children's views of the adult world. A child psychologist, Heller asked children between the ages of four and 10 about six basic subjects: marriage, parenthood, food, possessions, work and growing up. Thus, we hear from a six-year-old: "Marriage is when you get to keep your girl and don't have to give her back to her parents"; and from a 10-year-old, "As soon as I hear the word work, my back starts to hurt a lot and I get cramps in my legs." Entertaining and lively, the children's observations often are right on the mark. BOMC and QPB alternates; author tour.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.