Picture Books
A PARCEL of excellent American children's books has come to us from New York. Although it is impossible to obtain these books except by ordering them from the London publishers, Longman Green, 38-41, Paternoster Row, E.C. 4 (who will have to send to New York for them), they are so original and would make such very welcome presents for very young children that, in spite of the delay, it would be worth while ordering some of them. Lions and Tigers and Elephants Too, by Bertha and Elmer Hader ($1.50) is just the sort of picture book which becomes a favourite in the nursery. A visit to the Zoo with a bag of peanuts is inevitably a great adventure, and the gay and vivid illustrations, par. ticularly that of the elephant which " grinned from car to car," are exactly what children love. The Lazy Teddy Bear ($1.00), a translation from the German is nearly as attractive. Tommy Tatters and the Four Bears, by Louis Moe ($1.50) has rather too sophisticated letterpress in verse, but vivacious coloured illustrations. Another large thin book which would adorn any floor is Mugel the Giant ($2.00). Mr. Rolf Winkler's illustrations of this German fairy-story are most impressive. The giant is amazingly large and the world minute.
Pictures are much more important than words (or even stories) to very little children, and coloured pictures are the most important of all. To splash paints on paper is a never failing joy, and Collins Painting Book (13s.) gives a good oppor- tunity for this pursuit. The Hawthorn Book of Nursery Rhymes (Blackie, ls.) has many favourites and the pictures can be decorated by any enterprising brush. Jack and Jill, illustrated by Frank Adams (Blackie, 6d.) is perhaps even more attractive. For a baby who is just beginning to be able to read The Oxford Annual for Baby (Oxford University Press, 3s. 6d.) will be welcome, particularly as there are many more pictures than pages of letterpress, (and Collins Playtime ABC (Collins, 8s. 6d.) also fulfils this function. In this class of books which babies can read to themselves, the two most delightful, which can be obtained in England, are The Runaway Sardine, by Emma L. Brock (Knopf, 5s.), telling the tale, mostly by drawings, of a sardine which with great courage and endurance, made its way from a
tub to the sea, and Numerous Names Nimbly Narrated, by Ruth Sandys (Oxford University Press, 6s.) is a delight to the eye. Every letter in the alphabet is illustrated by some ten words from " elegant " to " evolution " each by one extremely clever modem coloured drawing. This is a book which grown-ups will appreciate as much as children, and one which should make its entrance into every nursery this Christmas.
There is a delightful selection of books for slightly older children, with stories which they can either read to themselves or have read to them by the fire before bed-time. Of these, No. 8 Joy Street (Blackwell, 6s.) and Lady Cynthia Asquith's Children's Cargo (Eyre and Spottiswoode, 6s.) are perhaps the best. Mr. Laurence Housman, Mr. Algernon Blackwood, and Mr. L. A. G. Strong, are among the imaginative writers who contribute stories to No. 8 Joy Street. The illustration of Angela, a poor old crossing-sweeper flying with her cat, and the little boy, Chim, over St. Paul's, will appeal to every- one. The Children's Cargo includes Mr. A. A. Milne, Mr. de la Mare, among its group. A collection of Mr. Compton Mac- kenzie's stories Told (Blackwell, Os.) is also a book which will be prized by its possessor. Mr. A. H. Watson's illustrations are particularly charming. Miss Beatrix Potter's The Tale of Little Pig Robinson (Warne, Is. 6d.) will also be welcomed joyously. Her earlier books were certainly the favourites of this reviewer.
This Christmas Miss Rose Fyleman has again contributed two books, The Kaly Kruze Play Book (Harrap, 5s.) with charming coloured illustrations of children doing all sorts of amusing things, and The Doll's House (Methuen, Is.), with entertaining coloured pictures by Margaret Tempest, a story of the impossible adventures of Mr. and Mrs. Adolphus Godolphin and their family who live in a doll's house. Both Miss Helen Shackleton's Saucy and All (Macmillan, 7s. 6d.) and Mr. W. Beaumont's Toys (C. W. Beaumont, Is.) provide friendly, easily-read verse for children, and both of these books are delightfully illustrated.
Messrs. Dent send us The Story of Pierre Pons, a translation from the French (Os.), the story of a little English soldier who became the King of. the Dolls. The book is full of witty French drawings, but the letterpress is difficult reading for the average child. Messrs. Hachette (18, King William Street, W.C. 2) send us a collection of most original books. Robinson Crusoc (5s.) with pictures whose fascinating detail tell the story so well that it is hardly necessary to read it. Don Quixote (5s.) is equally good. These two books will appeal to any age, from five to fifty. They are obviously a new venture in publishing, and one which should be extremely successful.
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