The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-22
BOOKS FOR CHILDREN.
A List That Makes Good Reading for
Young People or Old.

Jeanette L. Glider. in New York World.
1t is easier to say what children should
read than what they will read. i have very
strong theories on the subject Of children's
reading, and have tried to work out these
theories from time to time, but not always
with success. believe as much depends
upon the child as upon the books that ara
laid before him. 1 must say that think
a taste for good reading can be cultivated.
If pains are taken and judgment used To
accomplish that end. If you tell a child that
he has got to read certain books those ars
just the books he doesn't want to read:
but If you put good boks in his way and
keep bad books out OF his way he
will naturally read what comes nearest to
hand. and you will have had your little
triumph without his knowing il.
shall be very glad to give a list Of books
for the benefit of boy and girl readers. and
I think that perhaps it's catholicity will
recommend it TO their consideration-if nos
to theirs, certainly 10 that OF their parents
II a boys tastes run in the direction OF
out-of-door life then should give him good
books on out-of-door subjects TO read 7
should give him, first of all. Robinson
Crusoe." II he is any kind Of boy he
story. From Robinson Crusoe' he will
pass on to the swiss Family Robinson"
which he will like nearly as well. aud his
sister will like better. robin Hood" OF
course; and he will not only read this. but
he will organize a band Of foresters in
which he will play the title role. Sooner or
later-sooner, perhaps the subject ia
uppernost-he will read 1.-The Century'e
Worlds Fair Book because he has either
been to the fair and will be glad 10 re-
fresh his memory, or he has not been there
and will want 10 get the best idea that q
boy can get of what was to be seen IN the
These books the average boy will read:
II he is a little above the average ne WIZ
find deligdd .c, Seof WTsnneTnr Ills sister
will read 1.-The Bride Of Lammermoor' -
well as "Ivanhoe'' and "kenilworth Inns
boy will have to be much below the aver
ace II he doesn't want TO read OllVer
Twist" and / should think that "Old Curl,
osity Shop and ''Dombey and son wouid
be quite within his reach. Then III ne wants
more OF the historical story, with less enorr
in the reading, there are the Henty DOCKS;
which cover nearly every HISTORICAL PSIiioa
TO the satisfaction OF any not TOO eAacuns
boy. =. to,,or,,a N
all right-feeling American boys, Dec ISs ns
gives us the romantic side OF the INDIANS.
The boy of nowadays Is apt TO regard the
red man as something TO be extermlnatedi
.
feel very differently on the SUBJECT
There are boys who are not particularly
interested in out OF doors, and would pTe.
fer something less exciting than the looks
/ have named To these l would recon-
mend Pilgrims Progress. for they must
read it young or never, and Franklin au-
photography, which is very stimulating
hook especially 20 a boy who has the Seeus
of Journalism in his brain -.
Girls / find, are just as FOND or boys
books as boys are: but it is not often thai
YOU find boys who care Tor girls DOORS.
Girls will like Mrs. Ewings stories unless
fond of fairy tales give them Hans Ander-
sen and the three or four fairy books that
Andrew Lang has edited. l think they are
Book And don't negles 70 give them
Alice in Wonderland and Ihr0ugh nc
S xnrss set tbs ahe are to- be found
In the pages of these books
Then there is Hawthorne's "Mon .1,sr
reinforcement will like. and Lamb's Tales
from Shakespeare" which Will serve until
they are old enough to enjoy the masters ts
thnt. I should recommend because, while
the story entertains, the reader gets an
idea CT Holland and lie IN that c9,umii.Is.
of bikes and windmills that he VIII get
nowhere else.
There is a very pretty little Irish story
called Castle Blair, whlch hnshih mas
der that he has. because. while II is en-
tirely a story, 1t is very charming one
and I never saw child yet who did nos
tThe Rose and the Ring" which IS the
only book of its kind that Thackeray ever
shomid read and would read il they had
an opportunity of doing SO. And "Hucxle-
berry Finn" will do them no harm: puti
OF good, because IT will give them an
amount OF innocent fun that they are not
have not read Stockton's 'Rudder Grange"
pet IL for them at once. and make them
acquainted with Pomona And while wa
them Lear's Book OF Nonsense; they WIN
enjoy that while they are young ana they
VIII , en5Isf end ~ the sort Of nonsense that
now and then is reished by the wlsest OF
men-and women. too 'Ihe BAD tallaes
come under this head, and there are other
ballads which are not Bab's which ought
TO recommend themselves to healthy mind
ed children-the old English ballads, such
as "Sir Patrick Spens' and "CheVy chase.
and Others of the same sort, TO be found IN
THE Children's Garlands," one OF the
Golden Treasury series.
/ should think that any child would be
delighted with TON Brown at Rugby
and tom Brown at Oxford; i know that
ley was %Hen MdS H Siu ana S' Water Bs
bies" OF course, different children have
different tastes. and. while one child might
distaste for "Sintram" and "Undine;'
and while she liked the two latter, might
give her good books OF both sorts, you win
steer clear OF breakers. Ruskin's king OF
the Golden River" is a book that most
Mrs. Virgins BIRDS Christmas Carol''
and Patsy"
Another book that 1 should put into the
hands of every child is THE Child's
Bible" which is simply and cxpurgated e1i-
ton OF the Bible, without any alterations.
What is given is chapter and verse as IL
stands in all Bibles; but there are omis-
sions which might be made in other Bibles
to advantage.