Go to any toy store and you'll see huge racks of hi-tech action figures, equipped with laser beams and rocket launchers. It's a far cry from Lincoln Logs and Tinkertoys. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, a history of toys in America. Also, child development guru Penelope Leach on how babies learn.

SEGMENT 1:

Historian Gary Cross of Pennsylvania State University is the author of "Kids' Stuff" - a history of toys. Cross tells Jim Fleming that toys at the turn of the century were miniature versions of things in the adult world, while today's toys are drawn from television, movies and fantasy. Also, child psychologist Penelope Leach has just issued a new edition of her classic childcare manual "Your Baby and Child." Leach tells Steve Paulson about some of the new research and explains why you should talk to your baby.

SEGMENT 2:

Legendary children's book author Kevin Henkes ("Owen," "Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse," and "Sun and Spoon") tells Steve Paulson that he has vivid memories from his earliest childhood which he uses in his books, and that you don't have to have children to write good books for them.

SEGMENT 3:

Nancy Willard writes and illustrates books for children and has also published several books of poetry for adults. She tells Judith Strasser that the same work can be heard in different ways by different listeners depending on their unique experience and reads one of her poems as an example. Nancy Willard teaches English at Vassar College. Her books include "The Magic Corn Field" and "Swimming Lessons."

Distribution dates:

• week of 12/14/97 - hour 3