New-York tribune., 1908-12-11
Literary .Neavs and Criticism

traitors who write their own verses, which way
Is it?-nay be assumed TO have satisfied them
selves in this matter OF proportion. To the
really charming sketches of Holland children.
maidens and mammas which Estelle II. Kerr
has given us in Little Sam in Voendam' (Mof-
fat Yard & Coz, she has supplied running ac-
compartment of breezy verses which add just
the right piquancy. George NJ. Brill in his
Rhymes of the Golden Age" Edward Stern &
Coz does not succeed so well with his ilIustra-
tions as with his rhymes, many of which have q
whimsical charm. Really Babies" (RandMc-
NaIly Company contains some threescore
photographs OF all sorts and conditions of little
folks taken by Elizabeth B. Brownel; and in
her little verse commentary she often touches
off very neatly the mood recorded by the camera.
A most acceptable compilation is that made by
NJ G. Edgar under the title "A Treasury of
Verse for Little Children IT. Y. Croweu & Coz.
The larger number of the poems by modern
writers.-Stevenson, Charles Kingsley, H. c.
Bunner, Celia Thaxter, to a few quite at
random,-and there is a refreshing absence of
conventionality and hero worship in the selec-
ton. Numerous wood block illustrations by
Will Pogany add Z novel charm. The Nursery
Picture Book CE. P. Dutton & Coz deserves
mention for the profuseness Of its bright pict-
ures, well adapted. like its Mother Goose jingles
TO delight very young children.
More like a rnyming fairy story, perhaps than
anything else is Louise Ayres Garnett's quaint
volume, THE Muffin Shop" CRand McNally &
Co), with its spirited color sketches by Hope
Dunlap. But there are plenty of stories with
really. truly fairies in them In The Castle
of Grumpy Crouch" by Mary Dickerson Donahey
edward Stern & Coz, you may read of how
the Princess F1oria lost her temper yes, actually
did lose it. and so was never able to get it back
till she had wandered far and wide through
magic forests and strange countries Then there
is The Land of Lost" by A A Green (SmalI,
Maynard & Coz. which tells of how good little
Dorothy was permitted to visit the happy coun-
try where all lost toys come TO life and enjoy
themselves. Adah Louise Sutton offers the
thrilling tale OF "A Little Maid in Toyland"
(Saalfeld Publishing Company; and If you
want to know what might happen should q fairy
give you the magic bracelet of Elinora, Queen
of Good Luck and bid you fly from the Harum-
Scarums why read "Toodles of Treasure Town
and Her Snow Man" by Frederic Chaplin (Saal-
field. As for The Yellow Princess by Irene
Elliott Benson CMcLoughlin Brothers.. it's
enough to report that the lovely Hildegarde con-
sents to be transformed into fountain of cold
healing water; and that looks TO US like an
ultimate test of character, fully deserving the
reward that waits at the end.
The introduction of a little fairy machinery
has long been a favorite device for rendering
knowledge attractive 1t is shrewGly utilized in
set of four little books that fit snugly into a
gay Autographed box The Old Farm Story
Box (E. P. Dutton & Coz. by Virginia Bennett.
In Garden Fairies" by S. S Paquin CNdoffat
Yard & Coz, little LaHa Browne makes the
acquaintance of certain friendly sprtes yclept
Sun Shower Sweet Blossom, ETC. who teach
her, after the most engaging Of methods. some