THE CHILDREN GREW

A widow's mite in raising two sons is a record of a challenge met -- and conquered -- and makes its points without hysteria or sentimentality. Her husband was a New York Times war correspondent who was killed in New Guinea and his death left her with two little boys, the necessity of getting a job -- in wartime Washington -- and all the problems of being father and mother to them. The tightrope of work and family life, the fears of mistakes, the necessary explanations about their father's death, the unending incidents -- and accidents -- that accompanied the boys' growing up, all fashion a changing pattern as the years brought their different problems. There was a move to New York, then to Connecticut; cases of vandalism, roughhousing, cooperation; the situation regarding animals and pets, holidays, school, sickness, sports and vocations; and finally Bob and John take over, dependably and hearteningly. Intelligent and pleasant, this could have a special market.