November 5, 192~ W -I L METTE LIFE 35 'Discuss and Review New and Old Children's Books t I yet inadequately treated. Many of the hest picture books are the work ·of I English artists who spare no pains to _ make their work artistic and who re, _ : : - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ' tain peculiarity the spontaneity and The Boy Scouts of America inautiSARAH S. HAMMOND (By Winnetka Public Library) freshness of youth. Prominent in this urated fhe first book week m 1913 (Glencoe Library) At this time oi year Children's Book field is Randolph Caldecott, an early with Franklin 1 · '1 e nineteenth centurv illustrator, whom tl , D bl " wee k cen t ers our a tt en t'ton on JUvem J · · Mathews, librarian of "D t I1at orgamzat10n, working in close cooro 1ea s ou c , book s. During the last six or seven no artist has surpassed in story-telling operation with booksellers and pub-Margaret Johnson. year s great improvement has been quality, action and humor. A child who ·11 the character and form of is deprived . of Randolph Caldecqtt's lishers to encourage the reading of adc 1 't t S I A seashor e setting where a youthful 111 · b k · f h' · goo d lI era ure among COUts. n 1919 conte st for the possession of a club- books for children, until there is HOW ptcture 00 mtSSCS part 0 1S JUSt Mr. Mathews addressed the Booksel- h D a remarkable selection of literature ap- heritage. His fir~t collection of picl.ers' convention which was held t'n ouse JS stage(1· orothea and her nropriate for those of every age. Old t u r es an d song s, ccThe Hou"'e ,, that Jack Boston and following his talk it was do.uhte play an important part, and rlas sics and favQrites are bet'ng re- Built" and "Hey-diddle-diddle 'P icture decided to organize a National chit- hrmg the tangled affairs of th e club to Book" would brt'ng ,·oy to the heart of a sati sfactory conclusion . published in attractive form with good ' dren's book .week. print and beautiful illustrations and any child. There are also some of his The success of the movement has -books published this year by Warne in-c reased from year to year until now among the newer authors there seem s in the Little Library size for 75 cents it is observed by libraries, schools and "The Hammon Twins" I to be a variety of conception and con- apiece. clubs as well as the book stores, and -Willis Knapp Jones. 1 tent. whic~ added to carefulness of "The Baby's Own Aesop," by Walter during the past seven years great , ,· · · P r 0 duct 1 0 n, mean s books that are Crane has illustrations similar to those strides have been made in the direction 1 wm stste rs, Fr e3hm en, are the lead- worth while and at the same time a of "The Baby's Bououet" and "The of buying more and better books for tn~ spiri ts. in t1~i s story of college life. delight. Baby's Opera." In all of these l)ooks children, the direct result of Children's M tStaken tdenttty .. adventure a -plenty, Among the books being published the artist triumphed over children's inRook Week. The importance of pro- the pl ~y of keen. wt.t s, and g~od sport? - thi s fall, which are especially interest- stin-ctive aversion to decorative draw,·iding the growing mind with the best ~nan s lup create mctd ents_ wlHch _ su stam :ng to children from four to eight years ing. Also, his "Goody Two Shoes," in literature, books with artistic iJlus- mtcres t tC' the .~ nd . 'Cnu sually good nf ae-e are : "Mr. Chick" by Lucy Fitch "Old Mother Hubbard" and "Sleeping trations and attractive format is be- ~ tory of sc hool ht e. Perkins, that inimitable writer of stor- Beauty" picture books are an educaing recognized now as it was not -ies for children , and by the way, an tion in line, color and design. in former days and the whole process Evan s ton neighbor: "\Vinnie-the"Aesop for Children" by Milo of publishing and selling has been com- "J ohn alld Susanne" 1 P ooh" by A. A. Miln e, which tells \Vinter should make these old fapletely revolutionized during the last -Edith Ballinger Price. :-thout the favorite Big Bear of Chris- vorites even more popular than they quarter of a century. Two waii ~ . run -awavs from an or- toplwr Robin and is illustrated by Ern- have been as his illustrations show a Each year sees an influx of new ph a asylum, finrl a ho;nc in the coun- ~~ q Shepard. whose drawings for rare sympathy for the text. "\\' I1e11 We \uere Ver'-· Young" helped "Granny Goose~' by John Rae, one of . uvenile books of tllert't a11d "'e are J "' try . John. embryo artist, t em})eramen · '" .J fortunate indeed to have these bo0ks tal, sensitive, brooding o\·e r an acci- · o ma k e th a t 1 k 1 "L'ttl the new book., of the season, has ex)OO so popu ar; 1 e · · ·· 1 ~r ary L'dd · 1 ' s quisite, full paae illustrations and discussed on this page by the nortl1 dent, leav es his new hom<'. His ad- 'f ;v ac 1 unery ))' 1' 1 e11 , w 1 11c 1L roshore librarians. Of the new books we venture s \\'ith hurgla r:; leads to a hap- "tl1e fi rs t ptc · t ur e b oo k ever rna d e f or silhouette decorations. The pictures wi s h to mention in particular "Hansel py climax. · wor ld o f have action and humor, as well a s 1110 dern c 1 11'ld ren a1 )OU t tl1etr an~ Gretel" with illustrations by Kay machinery" and is also fa scinating in beautiful color. Ne1lson. Undoubtedly, as is true with -its construction; "An alphabet for boy s "Children's Alphabet Pictures" by · 1s " b r R ac 1 many so-called children's books ' its "Th e M "·s teriou s Tutor" 1 F'1eld , eac1 1 · Rachel Field is like an old English 1 gtr anc 1e 1 etter . · qua Itttes will be appreciated more by .J · f b · 1 book in its atmosphere, and will un'ld ren, but we wonder -Gladys Blake. standmg for the nam e o a · oy or gtr, d ou b te dl y b e a great f avonte. . a d u Its t h an b y c h t1 if books like these will not be -cher 1 'shacrompanied by a funny httle r lytnr. "Picture Tales from the Russian" b) A Southern plautation. a mysterious such as: ed all the more in after years when tut or in a delightful family, and hidden "E is for Eliza: Valery Carrick is "one of the few black the subtleties of text and illustration treasures arc some of th e clements A solemn child is small Eliza: and white books that children love are fully appreciated. M.P. N. largely because of its few, bold strokes which cqmbine to make a g-ood Each day she grows a little wiser;" and its appeal to children's sense of mystery story for girls and boy s. In- "The Adventures of Johnny T. Bear" humor, which, as we know, is not like teresting superstition s, and dark e y hy Margaret J. McElroy, a delightful an adult's. . custom s add to the charm of the tale. <.:.tory full of humor; and · "\Vhat Hap"The Pied Piper," illustrated by Ratr ·----------------......:' " tned in the Ark" by Kenneth M. Greenway, has such gay charm and \Valkcr and Geoffrev M. Boumphrev. such charming meadows and meander BY ANNE WHITMACK Br HELEK BECKWITH an amusing tale of ·animals and their ing brooks that even grow~ups can (Wilmette Library) (Glencoe Library) adventures; "The J'ale of Mr. Tootle- forget their prosaic surroundii'gs while Cood books are writte~ with no · "The Hou se That Ran Away" oo" bv Bernard and Elinor Darwin; looking at them. :'articular age or sex in mind and the I "Captain Bandman, His Book of Tales UOld, Old Tales Retold" by Frederick -Lola Pierce. and Rhymes" by Miriam Clark Potter; Richardson are eight best beloved folk following books have been · selected with the knowledge that each has inThe solution 0:- a "Gold Bug mys- "The Enchanted Chilctren" by Vivian tales for children, and will undoubtedly tt-re sted some boy, altho we know that tery" by two high sclwol girl s restores T . Pomerov: "Four Times Once Upon find a warm welcome from them.. no boy has cared for all of them. the good name of a Grand Army vet- I a Time" b;· Margaret and Mary Bak"Our Children" by Anatole France, One boy was enthusiastic over the eran who ha s been unju s t!~- arcH..;crJ of ~>r: "The Adventur~ Club" by Rose illustrated by Boutet de Monvel, seems poems of Carl Sandburg as selected b,· trea son . Cl e\·cr mystery. Fvleman: "Pekr Pea" by N. G. Grish- to have captured- the spirit of French Rehecca West, another pas sed in it;a: "Chi-Wee and Loki of the Desert" childhood. This book is suitable for request for "Poems of Youth" compilh\· Grace Moon; "In the Beginning. a children in the third and fourth J!'rades. eel hy \Villiam Rose Benet. Manv "Prvdehurst"-Hammel Johnson. First Histon· for Little Children" hy "Joan of Arc!' by Boutet de Monvel hoys are tremendously interested i;1 Invited to spend Christmas at the I Eva Erleillh ; "Little Sally \Vaters" by is an enchanting book depiciting the th e drama and we have suggested Eu - rambling old man~ion oi their cccen- E. C. Phillips; "My Friend Toto" by life of the maid of Orleans. The · · "'I 1 K f'arton; "Ct '{t·ne , O,,'N et'11 an d Ph'! .. 1 ip ·. Barry, the. 1 tnc. ~randm?th~r. fo~r cousins have I , 1ar es 11ar1·te an d tl te American Library Association says that latter s In a Garden and You and I.' exettmg hohdays trynw to solve the Surprise House" by Helen Hill and this edition, published by Century, is r-.. d ' R d H 1' one of the most beautiful books ever Biographies full of color and life are family pearls. Improbable, but highb· Violet Maxwell; an ' e 1 T ow .J " b H D vmg published in this country for children. alway s \l·anted. "Sutter's Gold" by mystery of the disappearance . of the Monkey Y clcn amrosc 1 ee- an. "Chicken World," "Farm Book',' Blai~e Cendrars is very vidd and one entertaining. "Pocahontas" . and "Capt. John Smith" that every boy would enjoy . Hamlin by E . 30;.: ~1 Smith fl""~" three perennially Garland has written a book J)artly fie- I " ldl k k E tion and partly biograph.\' in uTrail- Toto and the Gift" " 1 and essentially chi i e boo s. lines xsimple quisite -colorings and bold, makers of the Middle Border"- - a long -Katherine 'Adams. make them very popular with childrert. drawn-out battle ending in a glorious Li.fe after the war in Rheims, ·an BY WINIFRED M. BRIGHT "Old Mother Goose Nursery Rhyme \·ict(lry appeals to something elemental eventful trip to America, and the sub(Wilmette Libr:1ry) Book" by Anne. Anderson is an unin all of us . It is for this reason as sequent discovery of her relationship The selection of picture books for usually aesthetic and tmaginative verwell as for its dramatic intensitv that to · a family of great wealth, is the children is most important for, appeal- sion of · the always beloved Mother "The Microbe Hunters" hY Kruif story of Toto, an orphaned French girl ing as they do to their imagination, Goose. There are full page illustra· has been so popular. possessed with a rare gift of imagina- they supply vicarious experiences and tions in color and smaller ones in Two best-sellers that arc enjoyed by tion. Good characterization. enlarge their sympathies, all of which black and white. young people are Durant's "Story of helps to a wider understanding of "Jane, Joseph and John" by Ralph phi I o sop h y" and "This Believing books when they are older. A picture Berengren also have full page pictures \\' orld" by Browne. "Fl d 1. , L A Ch k book shoulrl first of all give delight to in color, as well as others in black and 41 Sea narratives are always in demand. e g mgs - · · · ars aya. children. They like color, large, simple white, and deliR"htful verses ascribed Alain Gerbault's "Fights of the FireWritten by a popular Russian au- line~, tittle detail, action and humor. now to one, now to another, of the crest" is the log of his lone-handed thori this is the story of a Petrograd They seldom choose a retrospective three children." boarding school. and life in the home picture or heavy black and white "'Twas thn Nil!'ht B~iorc C11ri"tn,a , " cruise across the Atlantic. Youth glories in iconoclasm, and of a Russian prince. Lida, acting as poster pictures, or the decorative it- by Jessie Wilcox Smith will further .~htntld revel in W. E. Woodward's ~overness to the prince's granddaugh- lustration. The collection of picture endear this well known and loved poem ·'George Washington, the Image and ter, has thrilling experiences in a books is unfortunately limited and sub- to all children fortunate enough to see til~ ~ran." This is extremely "smart." strange and romantic setting. jects of edu-cational importance are as it. _ (;iris Boys and (;iris I · .B oys a p;cture Books De