The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-26 00:00:00

LITERATURE,

Juvenile Christmas Books.
The Child's Picture Scrap Book. With 400
Illustrations. Routledge.
The children are likely to be well off this Christ-
mas time. Books for the little, of every age and
character—books of every size and colour, radiant
without and within, are already crowding our book
table. Foremost amongst them, in size and attrac-
tiveness, is " The Child's Picture Scrap Book," just
brought out by Messrs. Routledge. Upwards of
400 engravings, either in a plain or coloured edition,
are here collected for the delight and instruction of
the juveniles. These pictures are all excellent in
design and execution, and, as such, are admirably
wail adapted to guide the unformed taste, and
stimulate the youthful fancy. It is with regret
that we occasionally recognise the uncouth outlines
and meretricious colouring that disfigure many of
the gaudy " obildren's picture books." Far other-
wise is it with these illustrated scrap books, which
are singularly graceful and well-finished. The
engravings they contain have many of them already
appeared in popular worits. We recognise in the
title page, the " Old Farm Gate," so well known to
the readers of Eliza Cook. "Old Pincher," toc., that
dear favourite of old and young, here again peeps
out of the butcher boy's hat, and will not render
the "Scrap Book" less welcome in the schoolroom
and the nureery. Some favourite legends of the
upper regions are embellished at full length. The
history of the wonderful old woman, with that
wonderfully obstinate little pig, who refused to get
over the style, occupies three pages, with about a
dozen illustrations. The calm and self-satisfied
demeanour of the obdurate pig contrasts
forcibly with the painfully-anxious coucte-
nance of his distracted mistress. " Whittington
and his Cat," " Cinderella and her Glass Slipper,"
" Jack and the Bean Stalk," " The Babes in the
Wood,' " Johnny Gilpin," " Goody Two Shoes,"
" The House that Jack Built," and many others,
are also the subject of a series of illustrations—a
running commentary on the pictures giving the
cream of the ta:e. Besides these, there are numerous
pictures of natural history, animals wild and tame,
birds, beasts, and fishes. The Sovereigns of Eng-
land make their due appearance, and amongst a host
of miscellaneous sketches there is a charming picto-
rial alphabet with a delightfully alliterative accom-
paniment—such as " Dorah and Dinah dancing
their Dolls" at the letter D. " Grace and Ger-
trude gathering Gooseberries," &c. Many a merry
augh will re-echo over these pleasant pictorial
pages.

Boutleclge's Every Boy's rAtintial. An Original
Miscellany of Entertaining Literature, edited by
Edmund Routledge, with one hundred illustra-
tions. Routledge.
This is a goodly volume of 760 pages, adorned
with a hundred illustrations. Conspicuous among
the letterpress, is the animated history of " Rob
Roy," by James Grant, which occupies twelve
chapters, each having an illustration. This tale
of daring and adventure, and wild romantic chi-
valry,will be right welcome to thu youthful reader.
Another tale of breathless interest and horror is

" The Old Man's Story" of the flight before the
wolves. The picture accompanying the narrative
is vivid and terrible. More amusing are also to
be met with, such as "Sam Spangles, or the His-
tory of a Harlequin," by Stirling Coyne, " The
Cheap Breakfast,"" My First Races," " How we
made our Guy," Sru. " Agony Point," a tale of
vivid interest, by the Rev. J. Pycroft, being the
main incident of his more elaborate work on a
marvellous hair-breadth escape from destruction ;
" The Hero of Flodden," " After Culloden," and
some other equally interesting articles, will afford
many an hour of thoughtful occupation. Out-
door Games for Cold Weather, In-door Games for
Chribtmas, Riddles, Skating, Chemistry, Boxing,
Domestic Pets, and many other equally attractive
themes, increase the boyish attractions of the book,
A little essay on " What Makes a Gentleman ?" is
well worthy of study by every would-be young
gentleman in the land,