The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-21
SOME OF THE new BOOKS
DensIow's Picture Books.

w. w. Denslow, the man who makes
rabbits climb trees and little Kansas girlies
get blown away into fairyland by funny
cyclones, is to the front again with a
batch of picture books for children. Here
tofore Mr.. Denslow has turned out at least
one large volume in time for the holidays,
but this year he has made new departure
and his publishers, the G.. w. Dillingham;
Company, of New York, are now issuing
twelve small ''Denslow books for the de-
light OF little folks. In four of these
''The' House that Jack Built" "Old Mother
Hubbard, 1.-The Five Little Pigs" and
Mary Had Little Lamb"-the artist has
taken the original text of the old, familiar
ingly quaint and decorative style which has
made him famous. With four other old
time nursery tales-"Jack and the Bean
stalk, Little Red Riding Hood" Tom
Thumb" and "The Three Bears'-he has
chosen to take some liberties, injecting a
good deal CT new fun into the yarns and
eliminating all of the cruelty and blood
shed. The artist does not believe that
cruelty and bloodshed should have a place
IN cnlldish literature why, just take the
old tale of Jack and the Beanstalk, he
said one evening last summer to a crowd
or newspaper men who were gathered
about a table at a German restaurant in
New York. There never was such ras-
cal in all the world as that fellow Jack.
In the first place, he wouldn't obey his
gOOo old trusting mother. Inen what ola
he do but trade his mothers cow-her only
means of gaining livelihood-for hand
full of miserable beans, When the beans
sprouted and the stalk grew up into the
clouds he climbed to the top of 1t despite
the pleading of his mother, who thought
he ought 10 stay at home, where he be
longed. Then, when he found the giants
house up there, he stole everything he could
lay his hands on Finally, when the
giants wrath had been roused-and who
wouldn't have been mad, I'd like to know?
Jack scampered down the beanstalk and
then drove an ak through the big plant
so that the pursuing giant fell down and
broke his neck. Jack was a disobedient
son, an migrate, a thief and murderer,
and the youngsters are asked To accept
him as hero! When L get out this new
picture book of mine I'm going to make
a new boy out of him."
And that is just what Mr.. Denslow has
done. Whether he has done wisely
mains to be seen. Children sometimes
sent having their old favorites of fiction
has filled his new versions of the ancient
tales so full of delicious humor that his
Juvenile followers will probably take to
the new Jack, the modern three bears, the
up-to-date Tom Thumb and the new
fashioned Little Red Riding Hood with
four remaining books of the series -
"Humpty Dumpty,' 1.-THE Zoo" "The a.
b. G. Book" and THE One-Ring Circus
are all creations of his own fancy The
two last named volumes are especially de-
lghtful, for Denslow's comical animals are
merry little circus are indeed wonderful to
behold. These new books of this original
artist are worthy successors to his adj
mirable Father Goose" and his wonder
full Wizard of o." and they are sure to at
tract just as much attention during the
HOLIDAYS