Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-26
FOR YOUNGER READERS.

THE BASKET WOMAN; Beok of Fanciful Tales
for children ny Mary Austin. Boston: Hougb-
ton. MfiIn Company. Washington; William
Ballantyne x Sons.
No child can read this book without
gaining "A sense of the dark mysteries OF
the great west the untold legends of the
Indians the rude tribal customs of the
REQ clans 1t is q collection of tales such
rs can be heard in the mouths of the In
dams when they grow confidential and
overcome their shyness before white men.
Mrs Austin has collected fourteen of
these tales and put them into language
that is itself delight even to the juvenile
taste. They treat of the desert and It's
ueachery, the Indians, the coyotes
ranches. Cattleu.en. miners, shepherds me
narratives deal with That strip of country
which lies east of the Sierra Nevada
mountains and south of the Yosemite. men
tioning places that are to be identified on
the map. That fact of itself Is a recon-
mendation to tie youthful reader. VINO
above all else has fondness for the true
story" Mrs Austin vouches for the truth
of her stories in terms that are absolutely
convnCing-if one is willing to be con-
virced. But whether true or not they
are all vividly interesting and at times
even creepy in their appeal.
New York: The Macmillan Company. Wash
ingtOn: Brentano's.
A little boy of six years, living in
western state. wrote a year ago to the edi-
tor of a magazine asking If there really
was a Santa Claus. for his papa said there
was not. SO the editor sent the letter off to
Mr.. Jacob Riis, knowing that he loves
children and knows a great deal of the real
truths that some other men are too busy to
know, and asked him to answer the little
man Mr.. Riis was just then coming to
Washington 10 visit the President and
brought the letter with him. and now he
answers it by showing how many things
that happened in the course of that jour
ney and visit went to prove positively that
there is a Santa Claus If any little boy
or girl can doubt after reading this book
there is no use arguing or pleading Such
a child is hopeless.
LOOKING FOR ALICE. By Walter Burgess Smith
Illustrated by c. Howard. Boston: Lothrop
Publishing Company.
Little Harriet had a notion that If she
could only find Alice, who went to Won
6erland and Behind the Looking Glass, she
would be able to learn a great deal from
her about the remarkable people she saw
in those places. So one day she decided 10
try to find her ana she travelled in a
strange land and saw strange creatures
and heard some strange truths. The way
to this land was down the well that was
in the orchard. Whenever Harriet looked
down it another little girl looked up at
her and SO she knew that that the
way. The book of her experiences is full
OF interest and surprises. The pictures
are cleverly drawn and some amusing
verses are added to the text to give 1t
variety.
KRISTY'S QUEER CHRISTMAS. BY Olive Thorne
Miller. Illustrated. Boston: Houghton. Miffiin
* Co. Washington: Woodward & Lothrop.
Little Kristy had been so i'll at her grand
mothers that she could not go home for
Christmas so She and her mother planned
a surprise for the neighbors on Christmas
eve. They were assembled by invitation in
the great kitchen. and each of the guests
was called upon for a story appropriate to
the season. SO with much laughter and
very few tears the tales were told and the
evening passed. leaving deep mark in the
memories of all Mrs. Miller, whose books
heretofore have dealt with birds, proves in
this work that she has a marked power to
entertain young readers
THE SANDMAN RHYMES. By willard Bonte Il
pany.
Every little reader knows all of the char
acters in these quaint and clever rhymes,
recognizing them Immediately from their
excellent portraits. The clothespin and the
dinner bell, the pitcher and the white-wash
brush. the base ball and the bat. the bread
knife and the onion-these and dozens of
others are told about in verse with funny
touches that are certain to make the
youngsters laugh The author has drawn
his own pictures, and made book that will
prove popular this season.
THE MINUTE BOYS OF THE GREEN NOUN
TAINs. BY James Otis. author Of The Boys
Of Fort Schuyler" &c. Illustrated by A. Burn
ham Shute. Boston: Dana Estes Co.
This book records for boys and girls the
stirring adventures of TObiah Stllman and
Jethro Pike during the year 1777, when
they served the colonies against the king
Two sixteen-yearold lads had enough
things happen to them and barely escaped
enough others to suit the most excitement
hungry reader, but the book escapes SEN
sationalism. and. as well as being a fine