New-York tribune., 1908-12-11

I of the secrets OF the garden. Two ventures in
dou eutobiography will surely have warm in
terest for all mothers in miniature: The blaiy
20 . birthday Doll" by Ethel c. Dow edward
Stern & Coz which recounts a sennight oi
nursery ylcissitudes punishments, ACCIDENTS
o,arreIs reconciliations all in due course; and
Mamma Nelly and l." by Louise F. Gregory
.e,+ern) wherein Chrissy relates the travels ana
adventures in which she and her foster mamma
have had part, and they are many For sun
smaller children joy will be found In our OWN
Story Book" &c, P. Dutton & Coz, with us gay
| pictures and happy little tales
Eroro Harper & Bros. comes a highly e!aoo-
rate reprint Of a simple little story by MI
t4ouells christmas Every Day" which SHOWS
ori+a charr,iugly and conclusively what dread-
fpl things might happen to US supposing tile
fairies should grant the wish Of certain snla4l
girl known TO the story-teller. The Chrls'Iias
season may also claim as distnctlvely us own
F; Boyd Smiths Santa Claus and All ABOUT
Him (Stokes) The title suggests large olueI
but Mr. Smith. whose story OF Moan ; AIN
will be mirthfully recalled, seems quite equal TO
his task If any fact of importance is LETT uh-
recorded by his vivacious text. surely 1t VIII De
discovered in some nook corner Of his de-
nciousIy humorous drawings.
One Of the funniest of the seasons funny
books is Peanut Land" by Eva Dean (h- r
Fenno & CO.. The adventures OF Wee-"ee'
Pooh-Pooh and their comrades are extremely
graphic. and at times almost uncannily familiar
considering that they only peanuts, WIN
pins for arms and legs! Some Of Harrison
Cadv's drawings in THE Happychaps' CThe
Century Company are extremely clever, lar
srperior to the perfunctory rhymes supplied by
Carolyn Wells. Bill, a Cheerful Dog py
Frederick White (Mofat, Yard & Coz, Will
bring laughter TO very small persons; ana all
children who rejoiced in the adventures OF the
famous bears, Teddy b and Teddy G., VIII also
rejoice to accompany them upon their European
travels The Roosevelt Bears Abroad ed
ward Stern & Coz contains some OF Seymour
Eaton's funniest work. In THE Hole Book
| GIarpers). Peter Newell has q capital time de-
picting. page by page, the havoc wrought TO all
sorts Of individuals in all sorts of undreamed-ot
ways by bullet which Tommy Potts naugntlly
discharged from his gun, and which strayed
| along its course quite undismayed untll-out
| the end of the bullet is part Of Mr.. Newell s
| little joke
1t was a happy day when Sir w. S. Gilber'
| was persuaded to write down the story of Pima
| fore for The Pinafore Picture Book" CThe Mac
milan Company. In the preface he sets forth
with delectable candor just exactly why he die
| it. OF the four reasons which, it appears, were
active with him, the last appeals TO US most
1 strongly though he himself thinks it mot Sc
| good as the other three" The Opera upor
| which this book is founded" says he, sis, un-
happily. not played in every town every night II
! the year It should be. of course, but it is not
| and it may very well happen that some poor
! people have to go so long as two or three years
| without having any opportunity of improving
| their minds by seeng'it performed We vel
| come this opportunity of mental improvement
| and surely the inimitable author has never re-
| corded anything inimitably than this be-
quilting story. Many of the famous songs are in
| cIuded: and the illustrations by Alice B. Wood
| ward are remarkable both for their harmonious
color and their delicate humor.~