Guideto

_ children’s books

Those who care deeply what and how much their children read will seize on “Michele Landsberg’s Guide to Children’s Books” (Penguin: $12.95) with relish.

By Andrea Deakin ' Terrace Book Reviewer

She brings fresh air, wisdom and plain common

sense to the discussion of how to encourage children to read, and how to appreciate what is available for them, ; : ‘ As we all should, Landsberg ranges the field of children’s literature available in English, giving ex- amples of choices from the literature of Great Bri- tain, the United States, Australia and New Zealand as well as the growing choice of Canadian books.

As she points out, ‘‘But to choose books on a strictly nationalistic basis is abhorrent to any book lover; only a barbarian would propose that Cana- dians must read only Atwood and Richler and forget all about Shakespeare and the Bible.”

Choice of books

Just as firmly as she attacks the choice of books on nationalistic grounds, she attacks choosing books on the grounds of gender bias, or any other social reason. “Well read youngsters, who are sensitive in their family lives to questions of fairness and equali- ty, will soon be alerted to biases in books, and perhaps there is something salutary in having to come to grips with recognizable prejudice in the writings of those who give us pleasure.”’ The secret lies in giving our children excellence with well-written, well- researched books sensitive and deep in their depiction of character, Landsberg notes.

No punches pulled

Landsberg pulls no punches when it comes to some writers stripping the mystique and showing clearly, in her view, the weaknesses which make certain writers questionable as good reading for children and bring- ing more sharply into focus fine writers like Diana Wynne Jones and Jill Paton Walsh.

Books from babyhood

Many people are very concerned with the problem of illiteracy, a problem whose roots go back to the in- fancy of children. Writers like Dorothy Butler, Elaine Moss and Michele Landsberg stress the impor- tance of introducing children to books from babyhood.

Landsberg writes at length about the problems of weaning children from inadequate television, stating that those who are print-literate will become an in- creasingly privileged and rare elite. ‘‘They will be the ones with the power to think, analyze, connect and create new meaning.”

Elaine Moss quotes the results of research done in Bradfort, Yorkshire, that reading children were ac- tive and motivated youngsters. Reading is not only the way children find out about the world around them, but also how they begin to understand and ap- preciate their own and other’s emotional worlds.

Book sources

The main sources from which children draw their books are the school, the library and the home. Perhaps of all of these, the home is the most vital, for it is the attitude of the home to reading that rein- forces the young child’s attitude to books,

Parents play a vital role in helping a child to be a reader and Landsberg has fulfilled an important role in assisting all those connected with children to understand the importance of books and appreciate what to look for in choosing books for their children.

Vitality and wisdom

This is an important book, and one that is filled with vitality and wisdom. ‘I’m convinced that if adults could overcome their prejudice against child- like joys, they could gain a great deal of pleasure from children’s novels and open the door for their own children’s lifelong reading,” Landsberg said.

” McHappy Day

Malcolm Hilcove, owner/operator of McDonald’s In Ter- race, along with coordinator Barb Ziraldo, wear the McHappy Days aprons and badges. McHappy Day is tak- ing place In the community today, April 2.

Sherry Halfyard photo

Locals benefit

from McHappy Day

TERRACE ~— On Thursday, March 27 at 1 p.m,, McDonald’s Res- taurant held a press con- ference regarding McHappy Day. McHappy Day is tak- ing place Wednesday, April 2, One dollar from every Big Mac purchased on McHappy Day will be donated to Ronald McDonald House in Vancouver and local children’s charities. ‘“‘Last year eight families from Kitimat, six from Terrace, two from Smithers, four from Prince Rupert and one from Burns Lake, stayed at Ronald McDonald House in Vancouver,’ said Mal- colm Hilcove, owner/ operator of the Terrace McDonald’s.

Child Sexual Abuse

Sexually abused female chil- dren who confide in and subse- quently receive support from their parents develop more positive attitudes toward men in their adult male-female relationships than victims who do not confide

in parents or another authority -

figure, according to Gail E. Wy- att, of the UCLA Neuropsychi- atric Institute and Hospital.

“We found this to be the case regardless of the severity of the abuse,"' she said. ‘Parental support contributed to better adjustment toward males in adulthood."’

“Big Bang’ Theory

Scientists using helium bal- loons to study microwave radia- tion in space have uncovered the most convincing evidence yet that the universe began with a pri- mordiat fireball known as the "big bang. 7)

Using measurements taken 24 miles above earth, the researchers found that relatively short wave- lengths of the cosmic background radiation closely fit thespectrum of light thet would remain from an exposive creation some 20

, billton years ago.

Ronald McDonald House has a total of 15 rooms, allotting one room per family. There is a minimal charge of $7 per day.. The families provide their own food and do their own laundry while staying in the facility.

“They found it very»

beneficial to have other families around. There is a lot of light at Ronald McDonald House, it’s a bright cheerful place,’’ said Hilcove.

The house is located only 15 minutes from the children’s hospital in Vancouver.

The Child Develop- ment Centres in Terrace and Kitimat will receive a

split of half the money |

made during McHappy Day.

Most McDonald's li- cencees have elected to send all their money to Ronald McDonald House. Hilcove, how- ever, will leave half the money raised in the com- munity,

Among those working at McHappy Day will be doctors, nurses, service club members, Miss Ter- race, Miss Kitimat, and the Kitimat Town Crier announcing the hourly progress.

Last McHappy Day, Terrace’s McDonald’s raised the largest amount ($4,000) for any McDonald's in B.C. This year our goal is $6,000, and we hope to be the top money-raiser in B.C. again, said Hilcove.

““‘Where we hope to get some of the extra funds his year is through donations,’” he said,

Terrace Review — Wesineeday, April, 1986 19 Options make a difference

TERRACE — The book “A Good Birth — A Safe Birth’ reflects my belief that what women equate with a ‘“‘good’’ birth is also in most cases, a safe one. I would urge pregnant parents to obtain a copy of the book by Diana Korte and Roberta Scaer. In fact, if you only read one book about birth, this is the one to get!

by Marianne Brorup-Weston

Parents must work to get conditions they desire surrounding the birth of their newborn. That means education. “If you don’t know your op- tions, you don’t have any,’” say Korte and Scaer in their book.

The following points have been shown to im- prove a woman’s sense of satisfaction as well as support safety of mother and baby during bith. Not everything applies to everybody all the time. It is vital that expectant parents decide what role you want to play in the celebration and drama of their baby’s birth. Once parents have a solid idea of what is available to them, they can design a birth plan or a hospital request list which will aid them in communicating with their caregiver and the staff.

Find out as much as you can about drugs dur- ing childbirth. All drugs will cross the placenta to the baby and involve some risk. If you want to avoid the routine use of analgesia (pain relievers) or anesthesia (pain blockers), you must ex- plore your beliefs and at- titudes about pain.

Trust

Simple things such as remaining mobile and upright, having another woman you know and trust with you (‘‘labor companion’’, ‘‘coach’’) and feeling safe and sup- ported increase your tolerance of pain. So does the ability to relax. Giving birth is a very in- timate and primitive ex- perience and if we feel at all vulnerable or threatened we will react like all other mammals — our labour will slow down. Breathing techni- ques, formerly thought to be a wonderful way of dissociating from pain, have now been shown to be of little value as a pain killer. Whatever works for you is right.

Getting to know your doctor’s personal philosophy about birth (this is the same if you are in the care of a mid-

wife) is paramount to your success. Make a list of concerns and discuss them one by one. Don’t dump 10 questions at one visit either. Sometimes, you may wish to change care- givers. That is okay. A

sense of deep trust and a

sharing of philosophy is important,

Support

You may want to ask a friend, a sister or a train- ed labor support person to accompany you and your partner through the birth experience. A nurse often fills this need, but for many women, a per- son they know well, who has worked with them throughout the preg- nancy, brings a sense of comfort and love that a casual acquaintance or a stranger cannot. Please don’t forget that fathers need nurturing too and a support person can pro- vide extra help in this area,

The last point I want to make is about inform- ed consent. What does that mean, you might say? Informed consent means that it is your right as a patient and parent to have presented to you all the risks and benefits of each pro- cedure suggested to you in labor.

For example, if you are discussing epidural anesthesia, someone in a position of authority must explain to you ex- actly how it can help you, and also, just as im- portantly, how the epidural can adversely affect you, the baby and/or the labor. No procedure is without a set of risks. It demonstrates your sense of responsibility as a parent to question everything. After all, you are the one who lives with the end result, not the hospital and not the doctor. When pro- cedures have been used along with true informed consent, parental satisfaction has increas- ed and the problem of law suits, reduced,

Discovery

In closing, I would like to say this: remember that when it comes down to the crunch, you are the only one who knows what is right for you. In nine out of 10 cases, no labor problems will arise. If you believe in your ability to give birth, if you surround yourself with people who make you feel strong and capable and if you in- form yourself of

modern-day manage- continued om page 20

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