CHILDREN'S BOOKS

Selling problems
SIR,-This can't be_aigned, or I should be taking an unfair Advantage of my fellow-writers-and there's a book slump on.
When " C. M. K." says there is "an almost non-existent market for Catholic 'juveniles' " this is not true as regards buyers: thousands of schools, parents and children would welcome such books. But it is true in as far as a "market" is a place that sells things. Bookshops can't afford to display, or even to stock, books that will have no chance of selling except to a very limited section of the public; and we all-author, publisher and buyer-depend on the bookshop.
Publishers can't possibly afford to publish what the general run of bookshops won't stock. This problem exists quite apart from Catholic books. Let me illustrate. After making a tolerable living by "juveniles" for many years (and a very good income during the war years), I found sales falling off. Feeling the actual salesman in a bookshop would be a good adviser, I called at three big shops that specialise in displaying children's books. I did not at first introduce myself, but simply asked for my own books. In each case I was told, not that they were out of stock, but out of print (which was not the fact).
Recently consulting a man of long experience in "the trade" as to this curious situation, I received the reply that you can't blame shops for the above doings. They get in stocks of a new book when it first appears. When these are sold out they get the new books, and simply say. the others are "out of print," this being "the only profitable way of selling books."
If Catholic "juveniles," besides their own particular difficulty, have to face this situation, ordinary commercial publishing of them is obviously out of the question. But as Catholic books for Catholic children are needed, some way must be found in which the book gets rather more directly from the freely giving author to the needy parent or teacher. Whether a way can be found is surely worth considering. This letter making the economic situation clear will show potential buyers that they will have to do their part, if some way out is offered. It will not be "Catholic Action," but common or garden Catholic living..
Old Hand
What should they aim at ?
Snt,-I would like to offer some queries and suggestions on the subject of "Catholic" books for children.
It is difficult to understand what is meant by a "Catholic" children's story. Surely we do not want a Winnie-the-Pooh who goes trotting off to confession at intervals or a Dr. Dolittle who teaches Gregorian chants to the birds.
There are many reasons why the truth which children absorb by implication is more real and lasting than rationally formulated commandments and facts without immediate significance. The child knows the first in the sense of possessing them, while the second live only in memory.
It is love of truth, its reflection in beauty and virtue and thus love of God which life and literature must give the child first. last and all the time, as a living and experienced corroboration of theological truth taught in the catechism.
At the present time it is more and more becoming recognised that all the great dreams, fairy stories and myths known to us demonstrate in the light of Divine Revelation a certain quality of truth in the normal working of the human imagination. If this fact is considered, does it not become clear that traditional fairy tales, legends and myths, the whole body of folk-lore (selected!) plus regular readings from the Bible in a modern translation (also selected) should be the perfect first literary education of any child?
One fundamental principle might he formulated thus: teach the children to know and love all things that are good of their kind and their souls will be nourished on the love and praise of God.
(Mrs.) D. P. Armstrong
37 Bidston Road, Orton, Bfrkenhead.
Children's Bible stories
Srit,-May I recommend to your correspondent F. J. McDonnell the excellent books written by Miss Teresa Lloyd, and published by Sands & Co.? Our Lady's Cathechists, the C.T.S., and the Dominican Sistersto mention only a few-do much to supply the needs of Catholic children.
At the same time 1 must admit that I have never found any Catholic books with such attractive illustrations as some Protestant publications. When teaching catechism to small children I have made use of some beautifully coloured pictures bought from the S.P.C.K. Having no text with them, there is no danger of heresy here, and they have proved most helpful. The Dominican picture Apostolate is doing good work, but I agree with your correspondent that Catholic publishers could learn much from their separated brethren in the production of attractive, illustrated books on the Life of Our Lord for children.
Cicely A. Gough, O.L.C.
Hill Farm Bungalow, Honeyeritch Lane, Froxfield, Petersfield.
1,000 copies
SIR.-Having recently read through the majority of Miss Vera Barclay's children's books. may I hope that your readers will support to the utmost that author's "Concrete proposal"?
I will undertake to dispose of six copies as a minimum. Surely it will not he difficult to find homes for 1,000 copies of a book for which there is a real need.
"Quoodle"