• BOOKS FOR SMALL CHILDREN.* IT is hardly an exaggeration

to say that The Velveteen Rabbit,1 that small, modest volume, is the most attractive of the children's books published this year. Other books may have more splendid bindings, be more sumptuous in paper, more generous in adventure, but for sheer charm The Velveteen Rabbit must distinctly be given the prize. "Margery Williams" has a charming touch, and the story of how the stuffed rabbit,"who becomes "real "in the toy sense, and then, after a long and honourable life, is changed into a flesh-and- fur rabbit, strikes just the right note between realism and sentimentality which is sure to charm the child of from four to seven. Mr. William Nicholson's pictures, which look as though they had been executed in coloured crayon, are most • (1) The Velveteen Rabbit, By Margery Williams. London : Heinemann. [7s. 6d. net.] (2) Poem. The adventures of a little boy, from the French of Paul and Victor Marguerite, translated by B5reng5re Drillien, with illustrations by Kathleen W. Coales. London : A. M. Phllpot. [7s. 6d. net].—(8) Half-Past Bed Time. By II. H. Bashford, with Illustrations by the author. London : George G. Harrap and Co. [5s. net.] (4) Dora and David All Alone. By Elizabeth Marc (Princess Nurrat All Mirla), illustrated by Charles Robinson. London : Hutchinson and Co. [6s. net.]—(5) The Goldfish Book. By Phyllis Austin, illustrated by Charles Robin- son. London : Hutchinson and Co. [6s. net.]—(6) The Bops' Own Book of Adven- ture. Edited by A. L. Hayden. London : Bogs' Om; Paper Office. [3s. 6d. net.]--- (7) Barbara in Pixie-Land. By Harry E. Chapman, illustrated by Gladys M. Rees. London : Jonathan Cape. [5s. net.]—(8) 2'1e House of Fancy. By Mrs. H. C. Cradoek, illustrated by Honor C. Appleton. London : Daniel O'Connor. [68. net.] —(9) The Flame Flower. By Phyllis Saunders, illustrated by Hilda T. Miller. London : Thornton ]iutterworth. [85. net.]—(10) The Pageant of the Flowers. By W. K. Koebel, illustrated by Hilda T. Miller and Lilian Gov-ly ; same publisher and price.—(11) Rlisr-Riapper, and other verses for children. By Marjorie Wilson.—(12) The Lw.kij Tub. By Elizabeth Croly. A book of verses for all ages. London : Mills and Boon. [5s. net]

delightful. The gradual change of the rabbit from his prick- eared smartness on the first Christmas morning to the last

stage when his little master is ill, and he is shown with an anxious expression against a background of medicine bottles, is conveyed with perfect sympathy. The contrast between the Velveteen and the Real Rabbit, and the joyous elan of the last picture, where, with real hind legs at last, the hero gambols among roots and fantastic trees, is admirably conveyed. It may seem ungracious to find fault with this most charming of volumes, but if ever "Margery Williams" gives us the story of the Skin Horse—and we sincerely hope she will—might we point this out to her ? The present review copy is destined for the Christmas stocking of a little girl of four, but that little girl of four, to whom the plot is precisely and exactly adapted, will not quite understand some of the actual phrases. Take the following, for example : "He felt he would give anything in the world to be able to jump about . . ." For a small child that sentence should run, "He wanted very much indeed to be able to jump about," and the extra emphasis should be given in some qualifying phrase before or after.

Poum2 is an engaging little boy, and it is a pleasure to follow him as he runs about in house or garden', tasting all the joys and excitements that an imaginative child creates even out of the most ordinary surroundings. But in this case they are not ordinary, at least to most English readers, while in those lucky mortals whose early childhood was enriched by French sunshine and colour this book will reawaken many recollec- tions. "A garden kissed by the sun where the roses are rosier than anywhere else, of golden fruits and green palms, where blue and green winged insects fly, and where it is so good to be alive. In comparison the house seems almost superfluous. Yet it is a clean, fresh, white house, and desirable because of the dining-room, where such good dinners await you ; beautiful, too, because of the drawing-room with its flowery-silk upholstered chairs in which you daren't sit ; pleasant because of its nooks and corners. . . ." Our readers will be able to judge from this quotation of the excellence of the translation. Indeed, there is nowhere in the book that roughness and jerkiness of style that we often connect with translations, and we can enter into all the family affairs of the general and his charming wife, as they appeared to their two little sons, Paul and Victor, "share in the banquet," tremble at the conversation of the alarming Zouave, philosophically accept the dog collar of correction, fall a happy victim to the charms of pretty little Zette, all without once mentally putting an English phrase back into the original. The illustrations, in black-and-white and sparingly used colour, are very pretty, and the Second Empire fashions are effectively treated.

Half-Past Bed Time3 is unlike the usual child's book, for though it is all about children's adventures with fairies, talking animals and all sorts of more or less accustomed wonders, there is a touch of authentic romance in the writing that is really arresting. One may not care for the point of view (in fact, the present writer does not) from which some of the stories are written. For instance, the Adam and Eve chapter would not accord with everybody's views on this subject, and the coming of Christ to the children's Christmas Tree at the end of the book is not so affecting as the author no doubt tried to make it, while the denouement of the tale of "The Sorrowful Picture" is so tragic that it might well haunt a nervous young reader. Still, the whole book has a charm which we firid it difficult to define, but which will appeal strongly to anyone, young or old, who is capable of feeling it. The group of children with whom we here make friends are lifelike, delightful little people, though perhaps they make too much of a habit of getting out of bed to keep trysts with shady characters, though, of course, from the kindest and most excellent of motives. They are also brave and come out of all the tight places they get into with flying colours. The grown-up characters are sympathetic and original, and the illustrations, by the author, are appropriate and interesting.

Doris and David All Alone.' Adventure after adventure crowd and jostle each other in the pages of this book. It is quite true to say that there is not a dull line in it, and we are whirled along in a wild career, encountering dog-stealers, policemen, hop-pickers, hot-tempered farmers and squires travelling showmen, sailors, pirates, and, to crown it all, can- nibals, till we gasp, breathless with excitement, cast up on a

tropical island, to come to a tritunphant conclusion on a beautiful yacht, owned by a beautiful lady. Everyone does everything at high pressure, and the children of the title rush through life at a great rate, and in a thoroughly exhilarating way. They are charming creatures, with engaging ways. Doris, for one, thinks nothing of taming a large black cannibal, and we are sorry to part with them and their dog Toby at the end of the book. However, they are left in good hands. and

we feel sure they will never be- left alone again after their forgetful father has married the charming Lady Hilton. Mr. Charles Robinson's illustrations, both coloured and black-and- white, are as spirited and interesting as is Princess Mirla's story telling.

The Goldfish Books takes us into very different surroundings,

and presents adventures to us in a more deliberate fashion. It is a pretty, fanciful story of the doings of a little boy and girl, who leave their nursery for a wonderful dream world under the sea, which they enter by way of a shell in a bowl of goldfish. The episodes are held together by the golden thread of Faith and Courage, and the children fight a witch, an octopus and two crabs with pluck and success. There are some realistic descriptions and pictures of strange sea mon- sters which will vividly recall the remarkable sights at the Ocean Museum at Monaco to those who have seen the mys- terious and awful beings that inhabit its dark recesses. Again we have nothing but praise for Mr. Robinson's illustrations.

There arc good short stories in The Boys' Own Book of Adventures, telling of a great variety of adventure in many parts of the wild world. Such titles as "My Night with Mr. Bruin," "The Spy of the Passamac River," "Trailing a Tiger," show the scope of the book. The illustrations are not of any particular interest.

The ideas underlying Barbara in Pixie-Land7 are over- shadowed by the interminable conversations carried on by Barbara and the pixies. Of course, children love conversation, in a book or out of it, but they want more events than are to be found here. The full-page coloured pictures are no more exciting than the text.

The House of Pancys is scarcely a story—rather, it is a series of pretty scenes with, fairies flitting about, rudring buds and flowers, and a nice little girl playing among them. The illustrations are in Miss Appleton's well-known style, and show us charming children in delightful surroundings. They are printed in good clear colours.

The Flame Plower" This fairy tale is written in a serious, sober, even wistful manner. The child heroine, who is called the Princess Bion, or Sorrow, wanders gravely about strange enchanted lands and seas, seeking for a silver circlet which will bring good fortune to her and her race and country. Her adventures are arduous and her companions are always re- commending her to be brave, which she undoubtedly is. She eventually finds a youth as Seriously minded as herself, and the story ends happily, though still seriously. The illustrations are very pretty, and show us a fair company of graceful fairies, birds and mortals.

The Pageant of the Flowersis is a rather long-winded little book. The writer has undertaken to give each familiar wild flower, not to speak of birds and butterflies, a definite human quality, but he is not quite convincing. The illus- trations, however, are delightful.

Klipper %hipper" is a pretty little book of verses concerned with the gentle., peaceful things in children's lives.

The Lucky Tub." This is another little book of verses. They are cheerful without being boisterous, and serious without being dull. Part I. is intended for "Little Children and Grown-14 People," Part II. for "School Children," and Part III. for "People in their Teens." On the whole, we like Part I. the best, but perhaps it is easier to write attractively of and for little children than for other ages. The book's paper jacket is quite ordinary, but lift it up and you will find a remarkably pretty cover.

Messrs. Hodder and Stoughton have published an attrac- tively bound and well-printed edition of Miss Alcott's Little Women (15s. net). Miss M. E. Gray's coloured illustrations are charming. We can here sec all our old friends just as they must have looked in their full skirts, well-fitting bodices and pretty ribbons. It is indeed a pleasure to turn over the pages and renew acquaintance with the lively March family. Mr. E. M. Allsopp, the editor of The Ewing Book (Bell and Sons, 2s. (Id.), forestalls the reader's possible objections to extracts from well-known stories by explaining the principle that he has followed in making his selection. He has done his work well, and gives us a good idea of the pleasure and interest that may be found in Mrs. Ewing's books. This little volume is not technically a " gift-book " perhaps, for it is one of a series of" Nosielist Readers" and has notes and exercises at the end, but it is so doelightful that a child would forgive the shock occasioned by finding a sort of school book among his Christmas presents after he had read only a few pages and looked at some of the pretty. pictures.

Messrs. Wells Gardner and Darton's edition of Aladdin and Other Arabian Nights Tales (4s.) is one of the best versions that we have read for a long time. It is written in good, dignified English, and has amusing illustrations.

The Guide Law. (Humphrey Milford, 6d.). This is a little paper-covered book of undistinguished rhymed versions of the Law and rather commonplace illustrations.

Us (Milford, 3s. 6d. net) is a delightful example of Mr. Aldin's pleasant style. A cheerful little girl tells the story of her doings in company with her puppy dog, Smut, and of his, adventures in Kensington Gardens. The illustrations are in black-and-white and a particularly pleasing shade of yellow. In Sing-Song Stories, by Agnes Crozier Herbertson (Milford, 35. 6d. net), when the little Princess could not go to sleep a !.` Dear-Old-Thing " came and told her stories. Though there is nothing startling in them they are not dull. The pictures are above the average.

In Fireside Stories, by Madeline Barnes (Blackie, 6s. net), there are no fairies or great adventures in out-of-the-way places, but there are plenty of nice, natural little children who, whether they go to a wedding or to the dentist, behave with great propriety and good sense. Miss Anderson's pictures are attractive, that of the little girl looking at herself in the dressing-table glass especially.

In Prince and Rover of Cloverfield Farm (Duckworth, 5s. net) Miss H. Fuller Orton tells, in very simple words, of ths life of children and animals on an English farm. Mr. Hugh Spencer's illustrations are good and his reds and browns are pleasant colours.

Picture Stories for Children, by Ermengarde Eberle (Duck- worth, 55. net), is a capital picture reading-book, and is dedicated to "little children who are not too old to sit on someone's lap:" The tiny pictures that take the place of tertain nouns in the -text are most attractive, and though the, stories are of the simplest kind, they are written in a lively, interesting manner This book will be of help in the effort of learning to read.

Jack Horner's Tea-Shop (Blackie, is. net) is a fascinating little toy book. Big children and " grown-ups " will take scissors and paste and manufacture the tea-shop and its customers, if one's own wishes are anything to go by, quite as much to gratify their own love of pretty things as to amuse the nursery party.

St. George and the Dragon, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, and Bluebeard, by S. Lyle Cummins (Methuen, Is. 6d. net each). These are little books of very simple plays that would be easy to act, but which unfortunately are so ill-written that no sensible child would care to take the trouble to learn the verses or parent to listen to them. Mr. Stampa's spirited illustrations are worthy of better lines than these, for instance : C.. Now hear my last word.

In destroying poor Bluebeard you drive the last nail In the coffin of 'Power in the hands of the Male.'" Rebecca Not a Moral Tale, by C. H. D. Giglioli and I. Giglioli (Thornton Butterworth, 2s. 6d. net). Here we have some really funny little pictures of wayward Rebecca, her stolid brothers, and her substantial mother and grandpapa. The verses are as amusing as the pictures, but it is just possible that some strict young moralists may look on Re- becca's philosophy as dangerously subversive of nursery law.

Messrs. Blackie have also published the following picture books. The titles and prices will be an indication to the reader of their scope and size. They are all brightly coloured and of an attractive appearance. Tales and Pictures for Children, 3s. 13d. net. Happy Little Folks, 3s. 6d. net. The Fairy Land Story Book, 2s. 6d. net. Sunny Days, 2s. net. Nell and the China Twins, is. 6d. net. Poems and Pictures for Little People. 2s. net. The Goosey Gander Picture Book, Is. 2d. net. Timothy the Teddy Bear and Solomon the Soldier, 6d. net each.