18 JANUARY 1890, Page 23

Funny Friends. (Ernest Nister.)—The comic animals of this little book

are portrayed by Mr. G. H. Thompson in a quite admirable way. We have seen nothing better of the kind this year, or, indeed, for many years past. The fox serenading the goose is particularly good ; and Miss Wood, who writes the verse, is equal to the occasion. We wish that we could transfer one of these humorous pictures to our columns. That being impossible, we must be content with praising them. On the whole, the verses are not quite as good as the drawings ; but they, too, have much merit. On the whole, this is one of the best books of the season.