In Brief: Dec. 31, 2001

GRANDPARENT COOL Just a generation ago, elderly people in children's literature were often portrayed as grumpy, mean or doddering, but a University of Florida study has found that contemporary kids books now overwhelmingly depict grandparents as upbeat, active and wise. Researchers believe that elders are getting added positive attention because more people are living to be active grandparents. The number of people age 65 or older has tripled over the past 50 years to a record 420 million worldwide, and older people in general are better educated, retiring earlier and living longer, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report.

KIDS UP,...

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