and creeping legs. And, best of
all, these "backyard monsters"
come with sounds— which
should really scare the heck
out of your kid brother.
Exhibits include "Bug's Eye
View," which allows visitors to
see people through an insect's
eyes, and "The Better To Eat
You With," which illustrates
how insects chew plants and
— gasp — suck blood.
The Detroit Science Center
is at 5020 John R at Warren.
Admission is $6.75 for adults,
and $4.75 for seniors and chil-
dren aged 3-17. For hours, call
the Detroit Science Center,
(313) 577-8400.
Is It Safe?
So maybe you heard from a
cousin who heard from a
friend who heard from an ac-
quaintance who thought she
saw something in a magazine
about a toy you just bought be-
ing recalled?
You can get all the up-to-
date news about recalled toys
and other children's products
thanks to a toll-free hotline.
The hotline is operated by
the Washington D.C.,-based
Consumer Product Safety
Commission. The number is 1-
800-638-2772.
It's In
The Cards
If you're looking
for a great
way to
help some
children and
get beautiful
art at the same
time, consider buying
Cards From The Heart.
The cards feature drawings
and paintings by children
with the New York Center
for Children + Families, found-
ed in 1919, which offers vari-
ous programs for
disadvantaged children and
their families. Programs in-
clude tutoring, after-school
care and counseling.
Cards From The Heart cost
$12 a box and may be be or-
dered through the Center for
Children + Families, 295
Lafayette St., New York, NY
10012.
"Marty Preston" (Blake Heron) with his new pal, in a scene from Shiloh.
We Need
Wet
Tushies!
A Doggie-
Dog World
If you have a child still in dia-
pers, The AppleTree is looking
for you!
We are about to conduct an
informal sur-
vey to test
various dia-
per brands for
fit and
ab-
sorbency. If
you're one of
the first 10 par-
ents to re-
spond, we'll
ask you to try out a package of
several diapers, then complete
a survey. Your comments will
appear in a report in an up-
coming issue of The Apple-
Tree.
If you're interested in partic-
ipating, please call Elizabeth
Applebaum, (248) 354-6060
ext. 257, and leave your
name and phone
number. We will be
able to respond only to
the first 10 callers.
A boy, a dog, a Jewish director
— what more could you want
in life?
Now at theaters throughout
metro Detroit, Shiloh is the
story of a boy named Marty
who is determined to save a
little dog from his abusive
owner. Based on the popular
novel of the same name by
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor,
the film stars Michael Moriar-
ty Blake Heron, Scott Wilson
and Rod Steiger.
Dale Rosenbloom wrote the
screenplay for the film, where
he also makes his debut as a
director.
"Even though most direc-
tors were making hip, urban,
violent stories or romantic
comedies, I decided to take a
chance and do something a lit-
tle different," he said. "I had
just had a child of my own
and I guess that helped me fall
in love with the Shiloh nov-
el."
A native of New York and a
graduate of the University
of Southern California
film school, Mr. Rosenbloom
says his biggest fear was
"how I would do working
with kids and animals. But it
wasn't really as difficult as
people say."
Oh,
Mommy,
You're A
Doll!
If you have that rare child
who puts up a fight whenever
he has to go to bed, who in-
sists "I don't want to go to
sleep without you!", the
Momy-Dady Doll may be ex-
actly what you need.
The doll features the loving
face of mom, dad, or anyone
else you choose on a 13"-tall
cotton doll. Each costs
$12.99, plus $3 shipping and
handling. (Dolls in hooded
jogging suits cost an additional
$3).
For information, write
Momy-Dady Doll, P.O. Box
487-X, Flourtown, PA 19031.