hat Children Like To Read

Twenty-Three Books For Twenty Thousand Children
Reviewed by GRACE M. PATON.
Briefly, and in catalogue style, Mrs. Grace Paton gives here a summary of new Christmas books for this season. She has many entertaining comments to make upon• the selection and writes that she has even tried out any books she was doubtful about upon a child " victim." In each case the " victim " confirmed her own reactions.
Her own favourites are the Sheed and Ward publications which include The King's Christmas Present, Saint Nicolas, and The Adventures of St. Paul-(the latter she puts among the story-books being the highest praise she can give it), and Harrap's Honk the Moose. It should be a classic, she says.
For The Younger Children Sleepy Tails, Elisabeth Fairholme (John Lane, 2s. 6d.) Pleasant short stories with nice illustrations, one for each night in the week, well printed (4-8).
The King's Christmas Present. Camille Melloy, adapted by Joan Windham. illus
trated. Jeanne Hebbelynch (Sheed and Ward, 3s. 6d.) A treasure. Give Christ mas stories each with a picture. Both stories and pictures have the simplicity and tenderness of a carol. A lovely present for any one except the Very Grown Up. Beautifully produced and printed.
Saint Nicholas, Henri Gheon, illustrated Elisabeth Ivanowsky (Sheed and Ward, 3s. 6d.) Again we have reason to be grateful to Messrs. Sheed and Ward. The story of St. Nicholas is beautifully told with plenty of illustrations. For slightly older children than the preceding book, it, too, will please older people.
A Rhyme of Blessed Edmund Campion, Si., illustrated by Robin (Burns, Oates and Washbourne, ls.)
Rhyme of ill. Edmund, with charming illustrations. Good introduction to one of the most lovable of the English Martyrs.
Honk the Moose, Phil Stong, illustrated by Kurt Wiese (Harrap, 5s.), attractively written and illustrated book for the younger children, appreciated by the rest of the family. Should be a classic. About a Moose who made himself at home in a stable in a Minnesota township; the moose, the children and the grown-ups are all very living things.
The White Drake, Ann Scott Moncrieff, illustrated Rojan (Methuen, 5s.) Pleasant collection of stories, with good illustrations, specially suitable for reading aloud, with art ironic humour which will amuse the reader, and the audience too.
Animal Stories A Pony for Jean, Joanna Cannan, illustrated by Anne Bullen (Lane, 8s. 6d.) Extremely well written story, with equally good illustrations. Jean is a vital person, and the dislike she inspired in one reader (unjustly because she is an only child), is a tribute to her creator. How she trains her pony to do great deeds of prowess wins back all the above reader's respect.
Runaway Mike, Eleanor Helme, illustrated, T. Ivester Lloyd (Peter Davies, 7s. 6d.)
Well told and beautifully illustrated. About a little gipsy boy and his pony in Exmoor. There is a map of their wanderings and very good descriptions of the country.
Roddy and the Rest, written and illustrated by C. B. Poultney (Methuen, 3s. 6d.) A book for dog lovers, who are " getting grown-up," though some children will like it also. Readers will either be rapturous or frankly tried. One of those books that makes foreigners ask " The English, are they human "7 Kasangwa, Lena Jeffrey (Harrap, 3s. 6d.) Story about a Rhodesian lion. Illustrations are good and so is the description of the county. Useful in school libraries for the children to read as an accompaniment to their South African geography.
For Older Children Dobry, Monica Shannon, illustrated by Atanas Katchamakoff (Harrap, 6s.). Tale of a Bulgarian boy. Not only fascinating in the picture it gives of life in a Bulgarian mountain village, in which the life and surroundings are vividly described, but it has the inevitability and simplicity of a folk tale. The telling is beautiful and quite free from any sophistication. Pictures a community which is Christian. The more impressive because there is no lurking feeling that the author has an axe, even of the most edifying variety, to grind.
He Went with Marco Polo, Louise A. Kent, illustrated (Harrap, 5s.) (10-14). Historical story, with convincing picture of Venice, and of Marco Polo.
They Met Robin Hood, Agnes Blundell, illustrated, Frank Rogers (Burns, Oates and Washbourne, 3s. 6d.) Historical story. Mrs. Blundell's earlier ones, the Robbers Cave and In Peril for the King, showed her gifts, and this enriches her success. Dust jacket is so attractive it is a pity it is not an end paper, and thus more durable.
AdventUres of St. Paul, Joan Windham, illustrated, Francois Bisson (Sheed and Ward, 3s. 6d.) Apology is due for putting St. Paul and his Adventures among the story books. The solid reason for it is that they are as interesting as any tale; the best comment on this book was that of an eleven year old who read it through at a sitting and said, "I was tired with St. Paul as we do him at school (may St. Paul forgive her teacher), but this is really interesting." Miss Windham's Six O'Clock Saints and its sequel have become nursery favourites, and Si. Paul should, too. The map is sensibly clear.
The Runaway, a Victorian story for the young, re-issued with woodcuts by Gwen Raverat (Macmillan, 6s.) Worth buying for the wood cuts alone, which will give all the family much pleasure. Story rightly but not aggravatingly moral, and connects many false ideas about the dullness of Victorian childhood. It is to be hoped that Mrs. Raverat will continue her good work. Holiday House, illustrated by her, for example, would be very satisfying. Interesting to notice how popular many of the Victorian favourites are, partly because they knew what interested children.
The Lads of Lad, Florence Bone (Pitman, 3s. 6d.) Very well told story of an eleven year old girl and her adventures on the way to and in Yorkshire in 1812. Will give children a real idea of how people lived and behaved in the early nineteenth century, and what the industrial revolution meant for workers and for child victims.
Radio Nick, translated from the German of Lucia Hertay (Burns, Oates and Washbourne, 2s. 6d.)
Exciting story of a boy who is a wireless fan and has his own transmitting set. He receives an S.O.S. and thus saves an aeroplane by warning messages.
Informative Books Travellers Three, Derek McCulloch (Pitman, 3s. 6d.) Account of a cruise of two children and their tutor along the Coast of Spain and back via Madeira. Doesn't quite come off either as a story or as information. Pleasantly told.
Michael in Book/and. Frederick Cowles (Burns, Oates and Washbourne, 3s. 6d.) Michael taken to I3ookland by engaging Mr. Bookworm and introduced to great men of English literature from the letter of
• Beowulf to Mr. Walpole. Modern chapters highly controversial, any child interested in English will like this book, very useful, too, for school libraries.
Michael's London, Elizabeth Montizambert (Harnish Hamilton, 7s. 6d.) Attractively produced, fully illustrated book about a little boy who, with his governess, explores London and learns to notice all the queer things to be found. Idea good, but curiously disappointing. Some children will be bored by it. History not always beyond reproach.
This Way to London, Ruth Cobb, illustrated by the author (Pitman, 3s. 6d.) Really excellent and far less pretentious and expensive than former London book, illustrations, though not so large, are better because of things beautiful and interesting in themselves. Author makes her book more valuable to children because she has a sense of history and growth.
The Book of Craftsmen, Marjory Bruce (Harrap, 7s. 6d.), beautifully illustrated clear account of the various crafts including Baker and Cook. Mine of curious and interesting information, and should be on an accessible shelf with the Quennell books. Ought to be in all school libraries.
The Book of Nature's Marvels, Frances Jenkins .01cott (Harrap, 7s. 6d.) Well illus trated book. Extracts ranging from the Bible to Jeans and Eddington. Author's intention edifying, but book too snippety, and many children will be put off by the suggestion of "soppiness."