Our Not So Dumb Friends
Is there any animal who has not a place in one of these books ? It seems doubtful : but, if there is, I advise him first of all to search through the preceding article, for some of the odder ones, such as unicorns, have got into that. If he is still left out, he had better approach a publisher, and appear in time for next Christmas.
Quite the most remarkable book is about an old friend, Moorland Mousie. Older Mousie, by Golden Gorse (Countrll Life, 10s. 6d.) continues the adventures of this very delightful pony, and of Tinker, Topper, and, of course, of Patience, Jack and Michael. Mousie has some excellent runs, gets loit• l eels with a circus, and has-a bad tinie-with a •tinier.iliKillgit I am glad to say he gets safely home at last. He writes with the same sense and joy in being alive that have made him a worthy companion to Black Beauty : and Lionel Edward.' charcoal drawings are really beautiful. The Joker and Jerry Again, by Eleanor I3elme and Nance Paul (Eyre. & Spottis- woode, 7s. 6d.) has a gOOd human story as well as more about two other favourite ponies, and is a pleasant and interesting book. The Midnight Steeplechase, by Moyra Charlton (Methuen, 5s.) is also-about horses. It is written with enormous zest, for riding; -for courage, and for the country, and such episodes as the ride itself suggest that its author (who is only fourteen)
will one day write really well. -
In The - Freedom of the Garden, by Susan. Buchan (Ivor Nicholson and Watson, 3s. 6d.) Bill (who is still at the age for a Nannie) is allowed to know the animal language, and so makes friends with the hedgehog, Maria Missel-Thrush, and all his animal neighbours, and has a very good time. Flora Klick- mann's Mystery in the Windflower Wood (Putnam, 5s.) is really a detective story. Where did the Holly Bush go ? What happened to the Thrush family, who lived in it ? It is all very good Pun. Charlie the Fox, by 50111T Budden (Country Life, Os.) tells of a cub who was rescued from a snare and grew up with the foxhound pups, Warrior, and Warfare, and has a thrilling climax. Young .Yup. by. Olwen Bowen (Elkin Mathews, 3s. 6d.) is about another fox-cnb *and his bight- walking friends. Miss BOWen- Writes* about- theth;. and Miss Sheila Hawkins draws them, with humour and understanding. Crocodile, translated from the Russian of K. Chvkovsky by Babette Deutsch (Elkin Mathews, 3s. 6d.) is a jolly book about a proud crocodile who was conquered by a boy called \Tanya. The pictures are effective, and the brisk rhythm of the verse has survived translation. Picture Tales from the Russian, by Valery Carrick (Blackwell, Os.) is a delightful and unusual book of stories, all about animals, all very short, and told with gusto and humour.
Last, but by no means least, Dr. Gub-Gub, D.S.D. (Doctor of Salad-Dressing). Gub-Gub's Book, by Hugh Lofting (Cape, 5s.) is the latest addition to the Doolittle saga. It is full of great thoughts on food, because that was Gub-Gub's chief hobby, and there are many good yarns with a strong food interest, notably those about Sherbet Scones, the Ice-Box Detective. All are told in the Doctor's own wise words, and the illustrations confirm our impression that Gub-Gub is indeed a noble pig.
Previous page
