19 MARCH 1943, Page 20

THESE are delightful books. The tales, in each book, are

based on a free and pleasantly imaginative interpretation of familiar nursery rhymes. The stories are well told, with plenty of good detail, and the appropriate nursery rhyme is worked in at the end of each story, the words being given in full. It is an ingenious idea, well carried out. The jackets -1nd illustrations are by Irene. Hawkins ; her drawings are faithful in detail to the text, and this is important because children dislike—and invariably notice— inconsistencies. I recommend these two little books to anyone looking for presents for children between three and seven.