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

A group of children ages four to ten share their views on the adult world, offering observations on marriage, parenthood, food, possessions, growing up, and the differences between adults and children

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.

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.