4 APRIL 1903, Page 24

First History of England. By Mrs. Cyril Ransorne. (Rivingtons. 2s.

6(L)—Mrs. Ransome gives us here a little book which is to be the first put into a child's hand when he or she is to have a first look into history. Probably this, too, will have been anticipated by some Diva voce teaching. It should serve this purpose well. To bring important events into prominence, with just so much explanation as to make an intelligible sequence, is the right principle. It is necessary above all things to rouse interest, and this is best done by making same things and persons large enough to catch, so to speak, the mental eye. No one can speak con& .dently on the merits of a text-book for children, or perhaps any -text-book at all, without actual experiment. But this First History looks as if it were a good one.