European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 28, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Books kids magazines take their Young readers seriously. A not the number of magazines aimed at children has been growing steadily. When John Papanek was an editor and writer at sports illustrated he was Well known in certain circles. But no one Ever sent in a to shirt asking for his autograph. But since Papanek began editing sports illustrated for kids last year he has Felt like a celebrity. Besides numerous requests for his autograph he receives More than 100 letters a Day filled with cartoons personal stories and even jokes. Randi Hacker also receives passionate letters from the children who read the new Magazine she publishes p3, which is dedicated to the environment. A children Are using their letters to Tell us How they feel about Earth and How scared they Are a Hacker said. Magazines for children is hardly a new idea highlights for children which is 45 years old is thriving leading the Field with its circulation of 3 million. But in the last two years dozens of new ones have started As publishers try to Appeal to a growing economically powerful and Loyal audience. The Range of magazines is evident in magazines for children a Guidebook with 123 entries that was published last year by the educational press association of America in Glassboro n.j., and the International Reading association in Newark Del. The editor Donald r. Stoll has the names of 30 new magazines for the next Issue. Magazines sometimes Appeal More to children than books do said Stoll whose organization began publishing the Guidebook As a Way to promote literacy. A it seems to be a More exciting kind of learning experience that a not associated with the class room a he said. A magazines make print a part of their  magazines for children like those for adults Are targeted to diverse and specialized interests. There Are Glossy trendy publications As Well As serious literary ones. Budding consumer activists can read zillions put out by Consumers Union the publisher of consumer reports. It is filled with articles on How to shop wisely for such things As twinkies vide game systems tapes and cd. Young writers can publish their poems and stories in Merlyn a pen a literary Magazine made up solely of their contributions. The children a Magazine Field although growing More crowded still seems appealing to publishers. New this fall is Ladybug a Magazine with stories puzzles and poems for children Ages 2 to 7. It is put out by open court publishing publishers of Cricket a similar Magazine for 6 to 14-year-Olds. Walt Disney publishing in Burbank calif., this month began publishing Disney adventures a 132-Page digest sized publication for children Ages 7 to 14, with nearly 1 million copies scheduled to be printed. The Magazine has profiles of people nature and science stories games and of course cartoons. In its november Issue Field and Stream will include a Junior version As a prototype. Time has been considering a similar plan. Fortune too is studying the possibility of publishing a Fortune for children or teen agers. A a there a so Little out there that a sophisticated a said Emma Dockendorff a spokeswoman for Fortune. One publisher came to that conclusion eight years ago and has profited by it. The publisher Donald e. Welsh president of Welsh publishing group in new York decided to Start a Magazine when his daughter who was then 9, asked for a subscription to people Magazine for Christmas. Wondering Why she  prefer something targeted to her age he looked at what was available. A they All talked Down to kids a Welsh said. A it was All about Little lambs and bears like being in 1950.�?� so his company began producing four magazines devoted to Barbie teenage mutant ninja turtles Mickey mouse and the real ghost busters that talked to not Down to the readers. The approach worked the magazines have a circulation of almost 4 million. New York Tim Earl \ 11 us i the general in his labyrinth by Gabriel Garcia Marquez translated by Edith Grossman Knopf 285 pp., $19.95 about a third of the Way into Gabriel Garcia Marquez a new novel the general of his title remarks cryptically a i am condemned to a theatrical  and Why not for the general is Simon Bolivar revered by latin americans As the Liberator who freed latin America of its Spanish conquerors in the 1820s and who is encrusted with elements of the myths of Washington Lincoln Napoleon and Byron. But Marquez whose a magical realism of a one Hundred years of Solitude and the a autumn of the patriarch did much to invest latin american history with the mythological Here strips the mythic figure to a More fallible form. He does so not to debunk Bolivar but to make him human and thus provide another Avenue of Access to the tangled history of South America. Something is missing however. Despite the characters complexity it is As if Marquez has not fully engaged his subject yet to say this is not Marquez at his Best is Only minimal criticism Marquez not at his Best is still very very Good. David e. Anderson United press International the Gulf by David Poyer St. Martins 464 pp., $19.95 As this novel went to press the . Action in escorting re flagged kuwaiti tankers through the persian Gulf was swiftly fading to the status of a minor historical footnote. Then Iraq invaded Kuwait and the Gulf again became the focus of world attention making a the Gulf As timely As today a headlines. With or without the stimulus of the latest crisis a the Gulf is a crackling Good Yam about life aboard the . Warships during the tense Days of escorting the Oil tankers through the mined Waters of the strategic waterway. Payer an Annapolis graduate still on Active duty writes in a Crisp style to give us a Navy insiders View of life aboard ship and on Shore during tense times. He also weaves in a glimpse of the broader geopolitical mane vering going on in the background As the Navy goes about its work. Edgar Miller United press International the Ransom of Black stealth one by Dean ing St. Martins 311 pp., $18.95 available in paperback stealth one nicknamed the a Hel lug a starts a hellish journey seemingly to the opposite Side of right and wrong in this new novel. But what is right was it right for Cia Veteran Weston to blow up his Friend in the interest of National Security or did the Friend really blow up when it becomes Clear the soviets have Learned of the stealth project the Cia and the Asa brew up a project to have the a a prototype stolen and then have it accidentally fall into the wrong hands. But Weston a vengeful colleague puts the screws to that plan and steals the prototype and Weston a Niece for Good measure. Ing does no to fell into the acronym trap like Many spy writers nor does he bore the Reader with technical jargon about the innards of the  what he does do is Craft a spy Yam that stealthily slips to a Surprise conclusion. Kathleen Ostrander United press International All books available at stars and stripes  16 c to plus sunday october 28,1990