Scuoor. Booxs..—We do not know whether we are right in
men- tioning under this beading The Forty Shires ; Their History, Scenery, Arts, and Legends, by Charlotte M. Mason. (Ilatehards.) It has an appearance more ornamental, not to say sumptuous, than the school books commonly present. We may call it, perhaps, a reading-book with a special object, that object being to teach English geography in a concrete way. And the object is well carried out, though it admits of improvement in details. The author has not always con- sulted the newest authorities. Who are the "five dukes" that have parks near Worksop ? There are but two, Newcastle and Portland. All but one of the "hop-gardens near ]ietford " have disappeared, though the hop-fair still survives. Still, the book deserves much praise—Great Britain for Little Di itons. By Eleanor Bulley. (Wells Gardner, Darton, and Co.)—This is another geography reading-book, intended for younger children, written in a colloquial style,—we should be inclined to say, a somewhat too colloquial style. It is surprising how soon children begin to resent the " learning- made-easy " fashion of writing. They like, we fancy, their fun and their learning separate,—us far, at least, as their books arc con- c3rnecl, — though they appreciate a judicious mixture by the teacher. Groat pains have been taken with this book, and it contains abundance of information.—Glimvos of Englund. By J. lt. Blakiston, M.A. (Griffith and Farran.)—This is an enlarged edition, but still kept within a very moderate compass. The writer seeks to put leading geographical facts in plain, nntechnical language, and succeeds very well. Here, again, the conversational style is adopted, a boy accompanying his father on various tours, and having his mind stored with knowledge as he goes. The method is well managed.—In the series of " Industrial Geography Primers," we have " The United States," by G. Phillips Bevan (W. Swan Sonnenschein and Allen), a very useful summary of facts.—Yet another book of the same class we have in the Second Geographical Reader, The British Empire : Part I., England and Wales. (Isbister.)—We must also mention the " seventh edition" of the Civil Service Geography, by L. M. D. Spence, edited by Thomas Gray. (Crosby Lock wood.)—Of general reading. books, we have received what seems a well-compiled series, under the some- what ambitions name of The Model Reading-book, edited by It. F. Charles, M.A. (Bello Brothers.)—It is in six parts, graduated for the use of various classes.—We have also received a specimen of Jarrold't: Empire Readers, by S. B. Tait (Jerrold and Son); and of the English History Reading-books, Richard I. and Edward I., by Ella S. Armitage. (14mgmans.)
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