GIFT - BOOKS.
BOOKS FOR LITTLE CHILDREN,*
Peggy's Giant' is an original and quite delightful story-book. Miss Hillyard evidently knows the sort of things that children like, and Peggy's adventures with her giant are exactly those that a little girl, celebrating her birthday with six candles, would very much enjoy and appreciate. The rather grumpy but efficient Fannie is well drawn, and let us hope that some of her compeers will mend their ways after reading this story. The coloured illustrations are spirited and amusing. We are told that they are drawn by "Peggy," and we must congratulate her on her success as an illustrator.
Peter's Pencil., This little boy will very fond of drawing, and when a nice old gentleman gave him a sketch-book he filled it with pictures and then fell asleep and dreamed that the people and things he had drawn became real. This is, of course, quite a good setting for adventures, and the writer and illus- trator take advantage of it and give us some amusing scenes.
Tales of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie is an Australian story about "two little gum-nut babies." It may be a little puzzling, for there are many queer creatures in it, besides those of the title ; and as they do not conform exactly to our old nursery traditions, no doubt the grown-up reader will be asked many questions. For instance, there is a weird bird called a Kooka- burra and a boat called a Kurrajong. The sad and all but tragic incident of the gentle Possum caught in a trap ends happily, we are glad to say. The illustrations on nearly every page are lively and original and complete a fascinating story- book.
Peggy's Twins'. Peggy is a natural and delightful child, and her character is charmingly drawn. She was also lucky, for oa her seventh birthday her presents included twin' s. Of come she looked on them as peculiarly her own ; but though she was • w Pegyy't Olunt. By M. D. Hill yard. Lenten: A. C. Black. las. MI, net.)-(2) Peter's Pewit. By Phyllis Morris. London : John Laos. 17i not.! -(3) Snugglepat and Cuddlepie Pictures and Words by May Gibbs. Sydney. Angus and Robertson. Ice. net.1-(1) Pcgey's Issins. By Mr. u. C. Illustrated by Honor O. Appleton. London S.P.C.K. lee. net.)-(3) Josephs.. Jahn. and the Puppy. Related by Mrs. H. C. Cradock. Pictured by honor O. Appleton. London "Hackle. lbs. net.)-40) What Happened to Uss. Fess and Buzz. Written and illustratod.baller Taylor. London Jerrold. Ps; sd: net.1-17) Rhyme of Wee W . By Saucy 51. mom Lona.'" llarrop. 125.6d. nal
devoted to them, they were difficult to manage. Mrs. Cradock has the art of creating delightful nursery scenes, and these, together with Peggy's games and pranks with her friend Bob, make up a capital story. Miss Honor Appleton's illustrations in colour and line add greatly to the pleasure that children and lovers of children will get from this book.
Josephine, John, and the Puppy' Is another of Mrs. Cradock's books, with a natural nursery and schoolroom atmosphere, In which she sets happy children to work and play. Her illus- trator, Miss H. Appleton, has the delightful faculty of making all this visible to us with her accomplished brush and pencil.
What Happened to Uzz, Fuzz, and Buzz. They were three fat fairy babies who climbed trees and talked to the birds, or dived into the sea to ride on fishes, withgreat success and enjoy- ment.
As the title and cover suggest, Rhymes of Wee IV oodlanders, are about such creatures as squirrels and hedgehogs. Natural history is here more considered than poetry.
The Terrible Land of Don't, pictured by G. F. Christie, verses by Jessie Pope (Blackie, la. 6d. net), is a pretty simple little nursery book.—Biarkie's Children'e Diary, 1921, verses and pictures by Florence Harrison (1s. 6d. net). This is an inviting little book in which to begin the possibly doubtful habit of journal-writing. The space is not great, and so
"Any work and all the play Of many a red-letter day'
must be compressed into few words. There are six coloured pictures and appropriate verses, from the last of which we have taken our quotation.—The Ark Book, by Freda Derrick (Blackie, 7s. (I1 net). This book ought only to be looked at by candle light, for by anything brighter its green and blue are quite painfully vivid. If this precaution is taken, it is an amusing picture-book, showing us the Noah family and the animals in various attitudes and with characteristic expressions.—Four and Twenty Kickabouts, written by John Lea, pictured by J. R. Monsell (Blackie, 2s. 6d. net). Here are merry verses that go with a swing and lively pictures of fairy school children playing tricks on serious people such as cooks and sea captains. My Bunny Book (Blackie, Is. net) is a brightly coloured picture. book showing cheerful-looking rabbits playing about and dressed up in various ways.—Hans Andersen's Fairy Tales, illustrated by Helen Stratton (Blackie, 2s. net). This is another book with vividly coloured illustrations. The tales are well chosen.
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