Materials for Children about Nuclear War.

President Reagan's Fiscal Year 1987 budget was an attempt to increase dramatically spending on national defense, on nuclear weapons, while cutting back on social programs. The increases for almost all nuclear weapons indicate the Administration of the United States saw its major responsibility as one of providing a strong military, one centered on the development and deployment of nuclear weapons. Children today must live with the knowledge that at any instant the entire human race might be annihilated. Authors have been including this topic among the subjects dealt with in children's literature, such as Dr. Seuss's "The Butter Battle Book." Other picture books that can be read as allegories of the current arms race are "Drummer Hoff" by Barbara and Ed Emberley, Louis Armstrong's"How to Turn War into Peace," and Toshi Maruki's "Hiroshima's Flash." Judy Blume's book, "Tiger Eyes," offers a subtle statement on the frightening reality of the arms race and the delicate balance between world peace and world obliteration. Older children will find John Hersey's "Hiroshima" and Masuji Ibuse's "Black Rain," which recount the actual bombing of Hiroshima and its after effects, presenting blunt and detailed descriptions. There are also a number of books available which are intended to help parents introduce to their children and explore with them the realities of nuclear war--books which expose children to these realities without plunging them into a state of despair, but rather show them positive activities to help prevent the negative possibilities. (MS)