The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-01-22
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Your ChiMrg,1
Bx Olive Rcbarta Bartoa

How to keep the developing
 reader from delving too deeply
 into books that are not bene-
 flcial? olive Roberts Barton,
 Democrat NEA Service child
 training expert, tackles this Ser-
 ious problem in the second of
 her series of three articles on
 what books are best for chil-
 dren.
 When we get past the early books, written for children of six and un- der, we find the stream branching. Whereas the former were usually amusing and full of the unconscious humor of animals and nursery char acters. here we are confronting life with stories about all sorts of folk with every kind of experience. I can't say why we suddenly drop the comedy motive, unless 1t might be that parents themselves think i, 1t high time for Georgie to stop be- ing q nitwit and moron, to their way of thinking, and concentrate on the seriousness of life.
 We must not overlook the fact that children take fiction very ser- iously. There are many who take 1t entirely too seriously. And, if this surprises you, ask a children's li- brarian in big city, about girls asking for "sad" books, "a book to make you cry. if you please" It had to be stopped. The very child who asked for the "weeper" never got 1t, for the simple reason that she could not be encouraged in mor- bid emotions.
 ChIld's Needs Guide Choice
 The way to select the books Of a little boy or girl, If you are at- tempting to supervise reading, is to know the child himself. If he needs to be softened and made heed- full of suffering, then sad books or tragic ones won't damage him any. Not the sentimentally morbid one. though. There Is a difference. If your girl Is sensitive and inclined to enjoy her tears. watch what books she gloats over.
 Girls of our generation survived "Elsie" and her kind, but 1t was an age of fainting mothers, any, way. When I think of the general diet of sentimental reading that was put into our heads, wonder that any of use were normal. However, libraries began to drop the sickly, unhealthy stuff and go in for nor- nalcy. Now, "Elsie" won't hurt any, body. But when she keeps too much suffering company we must call halt.
 When "I.ittlc Eva" died, and Uncle Tom" had no home, I had to be removed bodily from the show. Likewise when Joe Jefferson as Rip limped back in tatters and even the new "Schneider" didn't know him, I nearly stopped the performance. East Lynne" was no better. These were shows, but they were books, too. So I include the too-sad movie also when I suggest limiting the emotional supply.
 A Little of Everything
 I cried quarts over "Tom," the immortal water baby, and Hans An- derson with his poor little match sellers and disillusioned fir trees didn't pick me up one bit. learned to love Kingsley and Anderson, and long ago forgave the others for the hours of misery they caused me. On the other hand, could read old Grimm to c fair-you-well. The mon- sters were gory and cruel, but pooh, you knew that the meanies deserv- ed 1t. Red Riding Hood, too, was told with moans and terrifying ges- lures to us kids. We liked 1t and shivered delightedly.
 Don't accent the sad or even the too realistic book, if your child can't take 1t; or is feeding his morbid soul on 1t, either one. A good mix ture of everything is best. Include comedy, poetry. fiction in variety. adventure, thrills. informative tales. character stories and all. But don't let an obsession creep in that feeds on selectivc appetite.