DAY CARE

A social issues writer (recycling, abortion, etc.) investigates the factors in today's need for day care—divorce, poverty, the changing work force—thoroughly examining its benefits and risks and even citing some child-development experts who have changed their minds in one direction or another. Gay gives a historical overview of model preschools and is up-to-date on corporate day-care, as well as continuing problems (e.g., faculty turnover; licensing dangers); a unique feature is a description of special kinds of care: for children with AIDS, disabled youngsters, homeless children, and young children paired with the elderly. But while the coverage of this ``Issues in Focus'' entry is broad and well balanced, the occasional personal accounts are not enough to make the book more than reportorial grist for the student paper mill. Notes; bibliography; index. Photos not seen. (Nonfiction. 12+)