Toy Tie-Ins With Books

The disturbing “merch” boom associated with children’s books (“Toy Tie-Ins Rate an ‘A’ With Children’s Book Publishers,” Dec. 23) does more than increase the gap between the haves and have-nots, the readers and nonreaders. It commercializes and stifles the creative outlets all children need, teaching them to buy into the marketer’s definition of what a toy “means.” It produces false expectations and unrealistic feelings of entitlement, setting children up for lifelong dissatisfaction as they are hooked into thinking they can never have enough. It contributes to the world’s environmental crisis by depleting vital natural resources, recycled or not.

Compassionate teachers and parents everywhere overwhelmingly agree that children need to be freed from our country’s possession obsession and learn that who they are is more important that what they own.

CAROL BENSON HOLST

Glendale

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It is hard to express my dismay at a comment buried deep the story, pointing out that support for California’s public libraries is the lowest in the nation. Lowest in the nation!

Your “Reading by 9” staff would do a great service to me and others by doing some detailed stories illuminating the voting records of our elected officials responsible for this notable achievement. My satisfaction for having voted against some of those who led us to this position is tempered by the knowledge that some of those for whom I voted undoubtedly contributed to the present state of disgrace.

CHARLES M. WEISENBERG

Beverly Hills