THE LITERARY TASTE OF CHILDREN {To the Editor of Tau
SPECTATOR.] -Sea,—In your review -of Six -to -Sixteen; in your issue of June 2nd, you quite rightly criticize the sections dealing with ,poetry- and elementary biology. May I be -allowed to offer an explanation ?
. I quite realize that the poetry section is inadequate. The Children's. Book Club opened with-a selected list of antholo- gies, intended as an introduction to the subject, to be added to as the demand arose. But owing to lack of interest on the part ofotir. members, few additions. have been made. It may be that the modern child is-nbt interested in poetry, but I am inclined to think that it is rather that poetry is not a subject -to be borrowed from a library. The time limit may have something to do with this, for the reading of poetry should
be a leisurely proceeding. • • I • intended the elementary biology -section for children reading under their parents' guidance. It has been one of the surprises of the. Children's Book. Club that, although one hears the subject discussed on all sides, little use has been made of this section of the Library.
The Library contains more than 1,800 books, all I hope suitable for our members, and I know we have been successful in improving the taste of many. It is comparatively easy to guide taste, but it is difficult to create a -demand for speeial
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