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November 6, 1926 WINNETKA TALK 35; EE --_.le"ti ni ee ME en -- {NEW EST CHILDREN'S BOOKS AND BOOK REV EWS] Discuss and Review New and Old Children's Books The Boy Scouts of America inaug- urated the first book week in 1913 with Franklin Mathews, librarian of that organization, working in close co- operation with booksellers and pub- lishers to encourage the reading of good literature among Scouts. In 1919 Mr. Mathews addressed the Booksel- lers' convention which was held in Boston and following his talk it was decided to organize a National chil- dren's book week. _ The success of the movement has increased from year to year until now it is observed by libraries, schools and clubs as well as the book stores, and during the past seven years great strides have been made in the direction of buying more and better books for children, the direct result of Children's Book Week. The importance of pro- viding the growing mind with the best in literature, books with artistic illus- trations and attractive format is be- ing recognized now as it was not in former days and the whole process of publishing and selling has been com- pletely revolutionized during the last quarter of a century. : Each year sees an influx of new juvenile books of merit and we are fortunate indeed to have these books discussed on this page by the north shore librarians. of the new books we wish to mention in particular "Hansel and Gretel" with illustrations by Kay Neilson. Undoubtedly, as is true with many so-called children's books, its qualities will be appreciated more by adults than by children, but we wonder if books like these will not be cherish- ed all the more in after years when the subtleties of text and illustration are fully appreciated. M.P.N. Boys By ANNE WHITMACK (Wilmette Library) Good books are written with no particular age or sex in mind, and the following books have been selected with the knowledge that each has in- terested some boy, altho we know that no boy has cared for all of them. One boy was enthusiastic over the poems of Carl Sandburg as selected by Rebecca West, another passed in a request for "Poems of Youth" compil- ed by William Rose Benet. Many boys are tremendously interested in the drama and we have suggested Fu- gene O'Neill and Philip Barry, the latter's "In a Garden" and "You and 1." Biographies full of color and life are always wanted. "Sutter's Gold" by Blaise Cendrars is very vivid and one that every boy would enjoy. Hamlin Garland has written a book partly fic- tion and partly biography in "Trail- makers of the Middle Border"--a long drawn-out battle ending in a glorious victory appeals to something elemental in all of us. It is for this reason as well as for its dramatic intensity that "The Microbe Hunters" by De Kruif has been so popular. Two best-sellers that are enjoyed by young people are Durant's "Story of Philosophy" and "This Believing World" by Browne. Sea narratives are always in demand. Alain Gerbault's "Fights of the Fire- crest" is the log of his lone-handed cruise across the Atlantic. Youth glories in iconoclasm, and should revel in W. E. Woodward's "George Washington, the Image and the Man." This is extremely "smart." ]| mystery story for girls and boys. Girls Boys and Girls SARAH S. HAMMOND (Glencoe Library) "Dorothea's Double" --Margaret Johnson. A seashore setting where a youthful contest for the possession of a club- "ouse is staged. Dorothea and her double play an important part, and bring the tangled affairs of the club to 1 satisfactory conclusion. "The Hammon Twins" --Willis Knapp Jones. Twin sisters, Freshmen, are the lead- ng spirits in this story of college life. Mistaken identity, adventure a-plenty, 'he play of keen wits, and good sports- manship create incidents which sustain 'nterest to the end. Unusually good story of school life. "John and Susanne" --Edith Ballinger Price. Two waifs, run-aways from an or- nha asylum, find a home in the coun- 'ry. John, embryo artist, temperamen- tal, sensitive, brooding over an acci- dent, leaves his new home. His ad- ventures with burglars leads to a hap- py climax. "The Mysterious Tutor" --Gladys Blake. A Southern plantation, a mysterious tutor in a delightful family, and hidden treasures are some of the elements which combine to make a good In- teresting superstitions, and darkey customs add to the charm of the tale. BY HELEN BECKWITH (Glencoe Library) "The House That Ran Away" --Lola Pierce. The solution of a "Gold Bug mys- tery" by two high school girls restores the good name of a Grand Army vet- eran who has been unjustly accused of treason. Clever mystery. "Prydehurst"--Hammel Johnson. Invited to spend Christmas at the rambling old mansion of their eccen- tric grandmother, four cousins have exciting holidays trying to solve the mystery of the disappearance of the family pearls. Improbable, but highly entertaining. "Toto and the Gift" --Katherine Adams. Life after the war in Rheims, an eventful trip to America, and the sub- sequent discovery of her relationship 'to a family of great wealth, is the story of Toto, an orphaned French girl possessed with a rare gift of imagina- tion. Good characterization. "Fledglings"--L. A. Charskaya. Written by a popular Russian au- thor, this is the story of a Petrograd boarding school, and life in the home of a Russian prince. Lida, acting as governess to the prince's granddaugh- ter, has thrilling experiences in a strange and romantic setting. (By Winnetka Public Library) At this time of year Children's Book week centers our attention on juvenile books. During the last six or seven years great improvement has been made in the character and form of books for children, until there is now a remarkable selection of literature ap- propriate for those of every age. classics and favorites are being re- published in attractive form with good print and beautiful illustrations and among the newer authors there seems to be a variety of conception and con- tent, which added to carefulness of production, means books that are worth while and at the same time a delight. Among the books being published this fall, which are especially interest- ing to children from four to eight years of age are: "Mr. Chick" by Lucy Fitch Perkins, that inimitable writer of stor- ies for children, and by the way, an Evanston neighbor; "Winnie-the- Pooh" by A. A. Milne, which tells about the favorite Big Bear of Chris- topher Robin and is illustrated by Ern- est Shepard, whose drawings for "When We Were Very Young" helped +o make that book so popular; "Little Machinery" by Mary Liddell, which is "the first picture book ever made for modern children about their world of machinery" and is also fascinating in its construction; "An alphabet for boys and girls" by Rachel Field, each letter standing for the name of a boy or girl, accompanied by a funny little rhyme, such as: "FE, is for Eliza: A solemn child is small Eliza; Each day she grows a little wiser;" "The Adventures of Johnny T. Bear" by Margaret J. McElroy, a delightful story full of humor: and "What Hap- pened in the Ark" by Kenneth M. Walker and Geoffrey M. Boumphrey, an amusing tale of animals and their adventures; "The Tale of Mr. Tootle- 00" by Bernard and Elinor Darwin; "Captain Bandman, His Book of Tales and Rhymes" by Miriam Clark Potter; "The Enchanted Children" by Vivian T. Pomeroy; "Four Times Once Upon a Time" by Margaret and Mary Bak- er; "The Adventure Club" by Rose Fyleman; "Peter Pea" by N. G. Grish- ina: "Chi-Wee and Loki of the Desert" by Grace Moon; "In the Beginning, a First History for Little Children" by Eva Lrleich; "Little Sally Waters" by E. C. Phillips; "My Friend Toto" by Charles Kearton; "Charlie and the Surprise House" by Helen Hill and Violet Maxwell; and "Red Howling Monkey" by Helen Damrosch Tee-Van. Picture Books By WINIFRED M. BRIGHT (Wilmette Library) The selection of picture books for children is most important for, appeal- ing as they do to their imagination, they supply vicarious experiences an enlarge their sympathies, all of which helps to a wider understanding of books when they are older. A picture book should first of all give delight to children. They like color, large, simple lines, little detail, action and humor. They seldom choose a retrospective picture or heavy black and white poster pictures, or the decorative il- lustration. The collection of picture books is unfortunately limited and sub- jects of educational importance are as yet inadequately treated. Many of the best picture books are the work of English artists who spare no pains to make their work artistic and who re- tain peculiarily the spontaneity and freshness of youth. Prominent in this field is Randolph Caldecott, an early nineteenth century illustrator, whom no artist has surpassed in story-telling quality, action and humor. A child who is deprived of Randolph Caldecott's picture book misses part of his just heritage. His first collection of pic- tures and songs, "The House that Jack d| Built" and "Hey-diddle-diddle Picture Book," would bring joy to the heart of any child. There are also some of his books published this year by Warne in the Little Library size for 75 cents apiece. "The Baby's Own Aesop," by Walter Crane has illustrations similar to those of "The Baby's Bouquet" and Baby's Opera." In all of these hooks the artist triumphed over children's in- stinctive aversion to decorative draw- ing. Also, his "Goody Two Shoes," "Old Mother Hubbard" and "Sleeping Beauty" picture books are an educa- tion in line, color and design. "Aesop for Children" by Milo Winter should make these old fa- vorites even more popular than they have been as his illustrations show a rare sympathy for the text. "Granny Goose" by John Rae, one of the new books of the season, has ex- quisite, full page illustrations and silhouette decorations. The pictures have action and humor, as well as beautiful color. "Children's Alphabet Pictures" by Rachel Field is like an old English book in its atmosphere, and will un- doubtedly be a great favorite. "Picture Tales from the Russian" b Valery Carrick is one of the few blac and white books that children love, largely because of its few, bold strokes and its appeal to children's sense of humor, which, as we know, is not like an adult's. f "The Pied Piper," illustrated by Kate Greenway, has such gay charm and such charming meadows and meander- ing brooks that even grownups can forget their prosaic surroundings while looking at them. i "Old, Old Tales Retold" by Frederick Richardson are eight best beloved folk tales for children, and will undoubtedly find a warm welcome from them.. "Our Children" by Anatole France, illustrated by Boutet de Monvel, seems to have captured the spirit of French childhood. This book is suitable for children in the third and fourth erades. "Joan of Arc" by Boutet de Monvel is an enchanting book depiciting the life of the maid of Orleans. The American Library Association says that this edition, published by Century, is one of the most beautiful books ever published in this country for children. "Chicken World," "Farm Book', "Pocahontas" and "Capt. John Smith" by E. Boyd Smith are three perennially and essentially childlike books. Ex- quisite colorings and bold, simple lines make them very popular with children. "Old Mother Goose 'Nursery Rhyme Book" by Anne Anderson is an un- usually aesthetic and imaginative ver- sion of the always beloved Mother Goose. There are full page illustra- d |tions in color and smaller ones in black and white. "Jane, Joseph and John" by Ralph Berengren also have full page pictures in color, as well as others in black and white, and delightful verses "ascribed now to one, now to another, of the three children." "T'was the Night Before Christmas" by Jessie Wilcox Smith will further endear this well known and loved poem to all children fortunate enough to see it. 2