IT'S TOUGH TO BE A KID Mary Blakeslee. Illustrations by Barb Reid. Richmond Hill (ON), Scholastic-Tab Publications, c1983. 35pp, paper, $2.50. ISBN 0-590-71177-6. Grades 3 and up. Reviewed by Fran Newman. Volume 11 Number 5. 1983 September. Welcome to new author Mary Blakeslee who is still very much in touch with the child still in herself. The title of this slim volume is catching; the title poem is probably the best of an excellent to good collection. Blakeslee writes on themes often contained in contemporary comic strips featuring children: kids dialing long distance around the world, kids plugging the facilities with toys, drums for Christmas, bath-time, bragging, hatred of vegetables, and birthday parties. This author knows how small children feel, that they "can't do anything really worthwhile," that they "don't want to go to the party next door," that they'd love to be invisible and most of all, that they love zaniness as in "The Vegetarian" and "Fade Out." The illustrations by Barb Reid are delightful black, white and pink sketches that add much to the overall fun of the book. Despite the drawbacks of no index and rather fragile makeup, the modest price makes this readily available to youngsters. Librarians should buy several copies. Fran Newman, Spring Valley P. S., Brighton, ON.