Boy Growing Older

LITTLE CHILDREN -- William Saroyan --Harcourt, Brace ($2.50).

William Saroyan is 29. When he was 26, a book of brash short stories (The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze) won him the reputation of most terrible literary infant of the year. Since then William Saroyan has been increasingly a problem child. Critics and readers alike have been impressed by his audacity, displeased by his bounding ego. His coldest dispraisers admit that he sometimes blurts out a suggestive truth; his warmest admirers wish occasionally that he would not shout so loud. Last week Saroyan's fourth book, Little Children, well illustrated his inclusive vices and his eclectic virtues. Of the 17 stories printed, perhaps half were worth it; five certainly did him credit, lent weight to the belief that the boy was growing older.

Some of them :

An urchin writes a love letter to the richest little girl in his class, who haughtily hands it in to teacher, who sends the culprit to the principal, whose amused understanding helps open the urchin's eyes.

A boy's first day in school brings tears to the eyes of his foster mother, but gives him a rich feeling of man-about-town.

A little boy is saving his nickels to buy a $1 zeppelin so that he and his pal can go to the Klondike in it. When the zeppelin arrives, they are disappointed that it turns out to be a toy.

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