New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-12-08
CHRISTMAS BOOKS.

Edward II. Weed, announces The Fables Of
iEsop with Illustrations by Henry L. Stephens, htho-
srsphed by Julius SBien" This work is totbe pub
hshed by subscription. The illustrations viii consist
Of Sc full page drawings, and the size Of the book is to
be large qusro. Mr. Stephens ssa clever draughtsman
and shows considerable skill IN draw1g.animas lie ap-
pears TO US 10 be somewhat indebted 10 Grandv but lie
Is plagiarst and If the remaining drawings shall prove
be spirited and characteristics as the few specimens
which been sent US, the book win add to BIS reputa
hon.
Fowler Wells also publish an edition of
Esop's Fables which they call " The Peoples Edition"
ytis intended ratherfor useful than ornamental book
and givesns the wel.known stories in a"compact but
clearly printed shape. The illustrations impressions
from old and welknown woOdcuts but they gen.
orally good that are not sorry to see them again.
l.. PraDg g. Co. send us "a New Version Of
OldMoher Hubbard by Ruth Chesterfield" II presents
Agtterng appearance enough with its bright borders to
each page but the borders not well enough designed
t0reward close examination The small picuresat the
side of each page have Deoneuous look the duh tint
IN which they are printed contrasting dsagreeaby with
the yencoOred borders. Mr. Prang has much Dgenu-
iy and has hitherto shown so much zeal IN weldoing
that DO not like 10 complain OF falling on IN the chaI
scor Of his publications. The idea Of this ehfs book Is
an excellent one and Miss>Chesterfeds New Version
IS simple and pretty but the decorative and illustrative
portions Of the book unsatisfactory and there Is NO
reason whythey should be French English, German
pictureboOks for children are made so beautiful nova
days that grown people are not ashamed TO be caught adj
mining them and shall criticize and criticize until
publishers forced into employing the best talent that
be found here and making books that are beautiful
really, and not merely snperfcally gay.
d. Appleton e. Co. publish Little Red Riding Hood"
and Cinderella or The Little Glass Slipper both books
illustrated Gusave Doe The pictures in these bOOksare
very coaely executed and do sort Of justice to Dore
designs Of which they mere travesties. We do not
think IL right 70 take Dores designs at all; but the
thing TO be done, II would have been well 10 do II
credtaby. picturebook for child ought to BIO in all
respects good art and mechanism can make It, but
the prevailing belief among publishers 20 be that
anything good enough for children. There was day
when q different notion prevailed.
Robert Carter & Co send us "The Parable Of
the Prodigd Son, with Notes by james Hamilton,
d. D., f. J.. s.. and Illustrations by Henry Courtenay
eelous" We hayeD sympathy with the spirit Of ibess
notes. II seems 20 us AZ variance with the deep humanity
that peyades the pa-able bat they were written for an
audience that viii no doubt read them with approval.
we Ike Mr. soouse designs quite Gs little as Mr. Hsmil-
toms notes both notes and designs obscure tho story
instead Of mak 10 coaEerf indeed 10 could be made
clearer They executed IN that makes the weak
aese Of iheg drawing YER tYidenE there 70 scarcely