Parents' Choice

Spending Those
Book Tokens
By Otto Herschan
FOR the lucky ones this is still Book Token time, and one or two reasonably-priced Annuals are, therefore, not out af place.
The very young, four to six will enjoy The Daily Mail Jolly Jingles Annual (5s.). The Daily Sketch Children's Annual (7s. 6d.) abounds in stories for the seven to nines. and The New Daily Mail Boys' Annual and The New Daily Mail Girls' Annual (both 7s. 6d.) hits a variety of offerings for ten to 13-year-olds: stories, fiction and factual, illustrated features, suggestions, strip cartoons, etc. Some of the items in the boys' annual are also in the girls' volume.
With the return to school of big and small, factual books are seasonal. The Junior Science Books, published by Muller at 10s, 6d., are to be highly recommended. The approach is simple. attractive and interesting. Their purpose; to enable primary and elementary grade children to read and understand them. The latest four titles are: Magnets and Electricity, both by Rocco V. Feravolo, Trees, by Robert S. Lemmon, and Beavers. by Alexander L. Crosby.
The idea of having a pictorial story accompanied sentence by sentence in an English and French text is not new. but The Little Dog, by Denise and Main Trez (Faber. 7s. fid.) is an attractive example of it.
Britain's Story, by M. W. Thomas (Nelson, 35s.) is, as the title suggests, a history of Bri.ain, but instead of the normal sequence of monarch by monarch. the author has taken it in sections such as: Homes. Food and Clothing. Transport and Trade. Workers on the Land, Workers in Industry, etc. Profusely illustrated, this volume is best suited to the young teenager.
Little Runner of the Longhouse. by Betty Baker (World's Work, 10s. 6d.) is one of the best I-CanRead books. It is about the Iroquois Indians. It is beautifully illustrated and every child starting to read for himself will love it.
Model Railway
A look at any station will show evidence that neither diesel nor electric engines has displaced the train-spotters, and what child does not dream of having a Model Railway. For all these boys the Swift Picture Book, Trains of the World, (Longacre Press, 7s. 6d.) will be a joy. Railway relics, postal services wash and brush up, all have a place here. •there are pictures of trains from Africa, from Asia and one of Ireland even shows the recent C.I.E. innovation of train hostesses.
For 8-12 year-olds, is Nicho Of The River by Tracy Richardson, (Methuen, 1 1 s. 6d.). This is the story of young teenaged Nicho. a Samba Indian of Nicaragua. In it the reader comes face to face with pythons, giant lizards and alligators, and navigating the River Pat= Nicho proves himself a man. Adventure galore.
How often is one in practical need of a particular knot! If you don't want to be caught out or want to avoid being asked by the children. the answer is to buy Your Book of Knots, by Percy W. Blandford, (Faber, 9s. 6d.).
Ireland
Patricia Lynch has many children's books to her credit and each one adds to her reputation as one of the most talented writers for the young. Her latest book The Golden Caddy, (Dent, 12s. 6d.) takes us once again to Ireland, this time to County Clare, to the Cjiffs of Mohcr and later through Ennis to Cork, the location of one of her earlier books. Those who know these parts well will appreciate the author's descriptive powers as well as her ability to tell a tale. For those not familiar with the Irish scene-she will correct the omission. For 9-13 yearolds.
Sunny Italy, Piccolo, Maria and the Donkey called Oriana, are an irresistible mixture; donkeys have been irresistible before, but this does not detract from the charm and simplicity of Piccolo and Maria by Anita Hewett, (Bodley Head. 8s. 6d.).
Children from six upwards will love this story of our grey fourlegged friend who becomes a film star and his life's companion, Piccolo.