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KID-BITS: DINI PETTY'S GUIDE TO TORONTO FOR CHILDREN.

Weiler, Meriké and Dini Petty.

Toronto, Methuen, 1987. 221pp, paper, $9.95, ISBN 0-458-80810-5. CIP

Adult
Reviewed by E. Robson

Volume 16 Number 2
1988 March


This guide to Toronto for children includes "everything from how to find a summer camp to where to buy banana-shaped kazoos" (p.7). The headings of "Arts and Activities," "Eats, etc.," "Education," "Health and Parenting" and "Outings" cover everything anyone may need to know, as a parent, teacher or teacher-librarian. However, the subheadings lead to much confusion and make the book difficult to use as a quick reference: for example, "Birthday parties" and "Food"' are separate headings but offer similar information. "Outings" lists mostly parks and historical places, but the zoo and museums are listed under "Arts and Activities." The inclusion of an index would help cross-reference many of the categories.

This guide includes both "see" and "do" activities, but does not give much detail on any of the entries. The user must contact the sources listed for further details. Except for one museum of toys in Rochester, New York, and one in Fort Erie, all activities are based in Toronto or in the immediate area, with an emphasis on the core for shops and restaurants. Because of this, the use of the book is limited to those in the metropolitan Toronto area or those who plan to holiday with children in the city. Many Toronto-area teachers and teachers-librarians will want to have access to this book for planning excursions.

Dini Petty of City TV is known for her documentaries dealing with children and thus has some qualifications for writing a book for children. Meriké Weiler is an author, book reviewer and art consultant with articles in many Canadian periodicals. Together they have produced a readable book for those dealing with children in Toronto.


E. Robson, Winston Churchill, C.I., Scarborough, Ont.
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