can't you simply use the open on "-|" in order to read output from your child? 
while ($more_childs_to_produce) {
  $pid= open($child[$childnumber++], "-|");
  if ($pid) {   # parent
    # here we have another "file"
    # to read frome with <$child[$childnumber-1]>
  } else {      # child
    # Do the child's work and
    exit; 
  }
}

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Taken from perldoc perlipc

In reply to Re: IO::Select - is it right for this? by Skeeve
in thread IO::Select - is it right for this? by mcogan1966

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