22 OCTOBER 1870, Page 20

Playing Trades, by Heraclitus Grey (Cassell and Co.), is one

of the most amusing—not to the grown-up, we mean, but to the young— and therefore one of the most genuine, children's books that we have seen for a long time. The children, who really talk like children, and are not desperately clever, or good, or naughty, play at baking, at cob- bling, at making wigs and hats, dm., then go into the country and disport themselves at a farmhouse; in fact, amuse themselves very well, and will amuse in return those who read about them. Their proceedings are illustrated by some sufficiently humorous pictures.