The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-24
YOUNG SBOOKS
New Ones for Public Library and
t. Changes to Be Made
There.
Elaborate and Thorough Work Be-
ing Done on Books for
Juveniles. p.

Children's books used to be divided into
two classes; the books they wanted toread
and the books they had to read. The
books coming out this year, however,
which will eventually help to store the
model room to be devoted to children IN
the new annex to the public library build
ing will all come under the head, books
children want to read.
For never before, according to MRS. FL
| lison, who has charge Of the Juvenile de-
partment in the public library, has so much
care, labor and time been devoted to the
preparation of literature that will meet
with the approval of the most fastidious
young critic. And these books are as
nice to look at as they are to read. The
| illustrations-and all are profusely illus
trated-are done only by the best artists.
"Stories of Mother Goose's Valley now
| in course of publication, heads the list
| Of attractive titles, and 1t is to be one OF
| the most decorative Of the new books.
| Tho book will be full Of fine pictures. 1t
| will be quite an encyclopedia Mother
Goose as we'll, each story being classified,
and the rhyme from which it is taken ar
| ranged in an index in the back OF the
| book.
| But the books that will probably be the
| best thumbed are those by w. J. Long,
the author who is considered by many 10
! be the coming rival Of Seton thompson.
His animals, say these critics, are drawn
even more wildly than Thompson's; and
an old hunter. comparing the two authors,
declares that Long, though he does not
| bring in SO much of the story element,
gives his readers a truer picture OF the
doings of his woodland actors. Secrets
| of the Woods ways of Wood-Folk,'
and evidences Ways" are three titles
which certainly make one wish to look
between the covers.
Tree and Cave Dwellers.
Rand & McNally of Chicago. who have
| lately opened a department for children
books, are getting out some fine things IN
what might be called the romances OF pre-
| historic places. Industrial and Social
. History Is the name Of the series as q
whole. and The Tree Dwellers,' The
Cave Dwellers," and 1.-THE Later Cave
Dwellers,' are some of the titles. The
subjects are treated most dramatically
each book being an epitome OF that pha Sc
of life which was most apparent to the
men Of the period: fear, for example, as
in Maeterlinck's "Pincess Madeline" being
| the dominant note of THE Cave dwell
| ers'' The five volumes, which make uI
the series. will be beautifully and pro
fusey Illustrated. king Arthur and ILLS
Knights" prepared from Mallory's text
is to be another interesting and hand
somely bound volume.
| To show the high grade OF readlng uni
versally enjoyed by children, Mrs. ELLISON
tells Of a. visit she received from teach
er and some of her pupils from one OF the
outlying schools. A boy who spoke II
very broken English, asked to give the
name Of his favorite story, said king
Arthur" and several others chose stories
taken from mythology, that abominatior
of most high school students.
Many Like Indian Tales.
In the face Of these awe-inspiring facts
it Is consoling to know that the great
body of Minneapolis school children still
cling to Indians and boarding schools
Nor is the classical but dreary Cooper
the favorite Of the boys; they show {
healthy preference for Stoddard and Mum
roe. And as for the girls, they so dote
on tales of boarding schools, Mrs. ELL
son has had to devote special case O.
books to that subject alone.
Fully as important, however, as TIT
work of ordering and issuing the books
at the central library building, is the fur
nishing Of books to the various schools
The books are sent in lots ranging from
so to 100, and these must all be grouped t.
suit the grades they are to supply. Some
times the principal will require hundred
volumes to supplement the nature work
for instance, in grades ranging from tn
first to the fourth; or again, she may wis
! as many volumes for one grade alone
This work of the Juvenile department
must be systematized to the last degree
it being necessary to keep informed as t
the subjects more or less specialized Il
different schools, so that the supply Q
books most likely to be in demand, ma
not run short.