Books for Little Children
THE books for quite small children are of a higher standard than usual this year. The Katy Kruse Dolly Book (Harrap, 5s.), with the letterpress by Miss Rose Fyleman, will delight all children with an eye for- bright colour, a taste for detail, and that old-fashioned quality an affection for dolls. The illustrations are charming and will provide many ideas for dressing-up, that best of all games for a wet afternoon. Another book for those who love animals more than dolls, which also consists almost entirely of pictures with an inex- haustible supply of fascinating detail, is The Ark Book, by Miss Freda Derrick (Blackie and Son, as. 6d.). Perhaps the most delightful illustration is of the mouse telling a ghost story to all the animals in the ark. Even the elephant was frightened by the story. Both pictures and letterpress are excellent.
Miss Eva Pain has collected a selection of stories which her father told, her long ago in Stories Barry Told Me (Longrnans, Green, 6s.), illustrated by Mrs. Bernard Darwin. The story of the ugly, blue kitten, which never grew up, will be very popular. All children of from six to ten will enjoy reading about The Exciting. Family (Mackie, 5s.) who came to live in the witch's house at Dullmudeombe and who brightened the life of the village in a thousand original ways. The book, by Miss M. D. Hillyard, has been illustrated realistically by two little Russian children, Agnes and Dorothea Kovalesky, with practically no help from grown-ups. Every child who reads this book will ward to make his own illustrations for his favourite stories. The Hcpzibah Hen Book (Berm, as. 6d.), by Mr. Olwen Bowen, will certainly be a favourite this year. Both the illustrations, by Mrs. L. R. Brightwell, and the story of the life of Hepzibah Hen in the farmyard, who tried to prevent her feathers moulting by taking mud baths on the advice of Gertrude Grunter, the pig, and by paddling in cold water on the advice of the duck, are truly delightful.
Mr. Algernon Blackwood has written a very readable story called Sambo and Snitch (Basil Blackwell, 3s. 6d.), illustrated by Miss Audrey Teago. It describes the adventures of Sambo and Topsy, a little boy and a little girl, with Snitch, a green lizard, who told them the secrets of his world of tiny insects and animals in return for the entrée into the " funny human world." Snitch is a very endearing character and will make many friends.
Simple Stories (Harrap, 7s. 6d.), in which many stories from Punch have been republished, is supposed to be for children and grown-ups, but it appears to be written unnecessarily
artificially for children, with practically no punctuation or quotation marks. It is rather tedious reading in conse- quence, although Mr. Morrow's illustrations are, of course, very amusing. Another perplexing beck is The Dreamland Express (Oxford University Press, 6s.), written and illus- trated by Mr. H. R. Millar. The story of a journey on a magic train would appeal'
ppeal to boys of from seven to ten, but the boys who actually go on this journey seem to be too old to appreciate their adventures. The illustrations are reminiscent of the most spectacular scenes in German and American
Other books with stories that can be read aloud with pleasure, both to the reader and to the listeners, are The Princess of Hearts (Blackie, 3s. 6d.), by Miss Sheila E. Brain, a delightful fairy story, A Treasury of Tales for Little Folks (Harrap, 3s. 6d.), The Blue Bus Route (Oxford University Press, 6s.), by Miss Constance Smedley, for all folk-song lovers, Pamela's Teddy Bears, by Mrs. H. C. Cradock (T. C. and E. C. Jack, 2s. 6d.), My Nicest Story Book (Blackie, 3s. 6d.). Little boys who love engines and ships will learn much in a very pleasant way from reading On the More (Dean, 3s. 6d.), By Rail and Road (Dean, 2s.), and Railways (Dean, ls.).
Messrs. Wells Gardner, Dorton and Co. have published four of their popular selections of stories and verses for very young children under the titles of Elfin Talcs, Pixie-Land, Playtime and Stories for Wee Folks, all at Is. Cd., and Messrs. Dean send us their always beloved rag-books. Playmates (Dean, 2s. 6d.) has very pleasant pictures of animals and Panoramas (Dean, 2s.) equally jolly pictures of ships. The Easy Painting Book (Dean, Is.) will while away many a dull hour, as will also Dean's Artistic Stencil Book (2s.). C. S.
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