Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-29

are as fresh and delightful to children
who have never read them as they once
We're to u.s.
Miss Clara w. Herbert, head of the chill
drens department of the District Public
Library, discussed in further detail the
methods Of book selection for the library S
young readers.
1T may not be generally recognized"
of reading is helpful to the child physical
~ Reading provides occupation without
nervous strain; and modern life is so full
or things which tell upon the sensitive
nervous organism of a child that any oc-
cupation of quiet nature is growing
more and more to be a positive boon.
Moreover, reading induces habit Of re-
sourcefulness which relieves the child
from dependence for entertainment upon
older people. Furthermore, books pro-
vide a common meeting ground for
grown-ups and the little people so far
separated from them in experience and
thought. For these reasons, among 9TH
ers, 1t Is my opinion that one of the most
important functions Of the District Public
Library is to encourage the habit Of read
ing among Washington children.
x X
Then, too. every child sshould have a
little library Of it's own. This can be
built up at very slight cost. for never
have books been so inexpensive. I ven
ture to say that any parent could keep
his child supplied with excellent reading
without paying more than so cents vol
ume. However. in order to do this it
would be necessary to introduce the child
to the books, for many Of them would
not compete in attractiveness Of make
up with other less desirable publications.
our own experience, though, Is that with
a little care children will read the better
books rather than the poorer.
determining no nf
1t Is desirable to consider the matter Of
price as little as possible, for it Is better
to own one really fine book than a half
dozen less desirable ones. Then, too,
there Is q great difference between an in
expensive book and cheap one. Many
of the stories on up-to-date subjects, such
as scout and airship tales. are cheap
books, inaccurate, improbable and unsat-
which should be chosen above that of
tmellness in choosing a child's book.
1t should have ethical value. interest a
hero-worshiping element for admirable
things and admirable people. simplicity
of incident, and lack Of introspection. 1t
should also have vitality. a quality which
is apt to be lost by authors who 20 on
writing an indefinite number Of books in
a series.
Moreover it should be borne in mind
that a book which may interest a child
at one stage Of his reading career may
not interest him at another stage. In the
beginning he needs picture books and
rhymes. Then he proceeds to fairy tales.
myths and legends, all three of which are
the basis of a literary appreciation. and
cultivate the imagination which is neces-
sary to carry the child successfully
through the world. With these, also, go
hero stories of men and women whose
lives boy or girl will want to initiate.
Books giving suggestions for occupations
meet a great want for children who care
less for reading than they do for activity
AT this point the tastes of boys and
girls gradually diverge. The girls care
more for books on home and school life.
while the boys want adventure and