For Children's Book Tokens
The Isle of Cats. By John Symonds. Illustrated by Gerard Hoffnung. (Dobson, 10s. 6d.) Mr. Twink and the Cat Thief. By Fred Hurt. Illustrated by Nina Scott Langley.
(Epworth Press, 8s. 6d.) A World of Animals. Edited by Margery Fisher. Illustrated by Maurice Wilson. (Brock- hampton Press, 18s.) A Leg at Each Corner. By Norman Thelwell. (Methuen, 16s.) The Summer Birds. By Penelope Farmer. Illustrated by James J. Spanfeller. (Chatto and Windus, 12s. 6d.) The Magic Tree and other Fairy Stories from Grimm. (Oldbournc. ICs. 6d.) Alan Works with Atoms. By S. Makepeace-Lott. (Chatto and Windus. 8s. 6d.) Your Book of Space Travel. By D. M. Desoutter. (Faber, 10s. 6d.) Guide to Modern Architecture. By Reyner Banham. (The Architectural Press, 25s.) How to Become a Test Cricketer. By R. C. Robertson-Glasgow. (Blond, 12s. 6d.) All About Lawrence of Arabia. By Alistair MacLean. Illustrated by Gil Walker. (W. H.
Allen, I Is. 6d.)
WHEN I was a small child, animals and fairies were my chief delights; and, fortunately for me, no one tried to destroy my faith in either. Time took the fairies from me, but my joy in the animal world has remained, Foolish adults who instil prejudices and neurotic fears into children (`Cats are selfish creatures. / don't like them.' `Don't touch the doggie, dear; he'll bite,' etc., etc.) deprive the young of more than they realise. All normal children love animals and as our life grows more urban, we depend more and more on our domestic pets who give us a last link with nature. The best animal stories are those that en- courage a sympathetic interest in the beasts that share the world with us.
As cats have been the chief sufferers from human ignorance and superstition, I am glad to see that these charming, affectionate and intelli- gent creatures are coming into their own. Some of the nicest of the new children's books have cat heroes. For very young readers there is The Isle of Cats written by John Symonds and illustrated by the immortal humorist Gerard Hoffnung. Uncle Tom, a magnificent specimen of the feline male, takes Gabriel to an island populated en- tirely by cats where he sees a cat boxing match and visits the Hall of Fame where hangs the por- trait of Bill Shakespuss, the poet. Hoffnung, who had a special feeling for the cat world, has really enjoyed drawing the pictures for this delightful work.
Equally entertaining, with beautiful illus- trations by Nina Scott Langley, is Mr. Twink and the Cat Thief, a compelling story written for older boys and girls by Freda Hurt. Mr. Twink and his cat friends are stolen by a nasty (and smelly) cat-thief and three brave village dogs set out to rescue them. An adventurous time is had by all before the animals get back safely to their loving masters and mistresses. An anthology of best animal pieces called World of Animals is a much more grown book. Margery Fisher has collected togetb some fine passages from the works of such Kipling, Jack London, Gerald Durrell and othe who share a deep understanding of animal both wild and tame. Here is creative writing a high order and Maurice Wilson's fine drawit1 are well up to the standard of the prose.
Norman Thelwell's A Leg at Each Corner which was serialised in a Sunday paper, already a well-known book and it is certain' one of the funniest horse books ever publishee This is an ideal purchase for the lucky little gl' who takes riding lessons and does not take the too seriously.
Though The Summer Birds, by Penelol Farmer, is written for girls, it will appeal l' imaginative boys. It tells how a strange bt appears in a village, no one knows from whet and teaches the local children how to fly. "11 young author has great insight into her chi' characters and I think she will go far. TI jacket, which is very attractive, and the illustr tions, are by James J. Spanfeller.
The appeal of the old fairy stories never d' and The Magic Tree, which contains four famoo stories by the Brothers Grimm, is decorated wit the most enchanting coloured pictures that have seen for a very long time. This is a mat nificent book for such a low price and wit excite any child, especially those coming upo these tales for the first time.
Older boys who are beginning to think of • career will be interested in Alan Works will:;: Atoms, by S. Makepeace-Lott, a good story tb1/ provides entertainment together with much ust,' ful technical information about life in an atorti research station. Another book for the up-to-dal boy is Your Book of Space Travel, by D. PI Desoutter, which treats in simple language the problems still to be solved before mankind can Probe very far into space and make journeys to other planets. It is not unlikely that some of the boys who spend their book tokens on this book willbe among the first men to land a space craft 11Pon the moon. The Guide to Modern Architec- ture is really a grown-up book and Reyner Bonhancs excellent text and fine photographs will prove of great value to those boys who are considering architecture as a profession.
Bow to Become a Test Cricketer, by R. C. Robertson-Glasgow, may not really help you to become a test cricketer, but it will give you a great deal of fun, while All About Lawrence of Arabia tells the story of T. E. Lawrence's desert campaigns in vivid, easy prose and is illustrated with maps, drawings and some splendid stills from the memorable film in which Peter O'Toole Played the main part.
OLIVIA MANNING
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