New-York tribune., 1918-01-13
GOOD Reading for the
Children
By EMMA GARY WALLACE


IND you ever stop to think that conpara-
j lively few books written fer children
last very long or are heard from after
few generations? There are several books,
to be sure like "Aice in Wonderland" "Gulli-
ver's Travels" Robinson Crusoe," and even
some of the later books, like "Polyanna" and
''Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" but when we
come to analyze these we find that they ap-
peal equally to the grown-ups as we'll as to
the child mind
The average child does not like to be written
down to or talked down to- Even kindergarten
children resent it. Much Of the tiny tot stuff
will be listened to once or twice, but give the
average intelligent child choice as to what
you will read or the story you will tell, and if
they have been given anything better, so that
they have an idea what to call for, they are
sure to surprise you by asking for one of Kip
llng's tales or a poem with lifting rhythm.
Professional story-tellers, librarians and
teachers usually agree that children grasp
and enjoy many things they could not explain
themselves in words.
When buying books for children, one Of the
most valuable modern works is often over
looked, for almost any child who can read will
find endless joy in an up-to date illustrated en-
cyclop@dia. Any home which does not possess
one could look forward to achieving such an
enviable possession. Children who are asking
questions and who are at the inquistive age
generally will find that the volumes Of ency-
clopsdia will answer many questions bring to
their mind multitude Of interesting facts and
increase their fund of knowledge in a perfectly
natural and delightful way.
An encyclopedia is invaluable in helping with
school work, and it aids parents and children
to keep abreast Many children feel that les.
sons necessary evil, and they do not
realize that there is a connection between
school work and the real work Of life. The
child who studies the encyclopedia, who glances
through 1t casually on a rainy day, or who,
with his playmates or brothers and sisters,
enjoys an encyclopedia game, where each one
has ten minutes to look up a given subject
and five minutes to tell what he has found out,
will discover that everybody who ever did any,
thing worth while had to work industriously.
and perhaps to study long and hard
One advantage of the encyclopedia habit is
that it encourages exactness. One of the great
banes of modern life is the grasping of few
details, owing to our hurried life, or the COM
mon failure to fasten an important point er-
octly The encyclopaedia, which is prepared by
experts and authorities, discourages sloppy
mental habits.
Every mother is familiar with the frequent
cry, "What shall d8?" and GLOW shah I do
this that?" Practically every simple in
dustry and some difficult ones are clearly out
lined in the last editions of the standard ency-
copedias-in fact, they are so carefully pre-
pared that the child may learn from them how
to make baskets, to carve wood, or to do .
thousand and one other things which will be
interesting and helpful.
1t is said that biography is the most helpful
of reading, and if this is true, then again the
encyclopedia is leader, because it is sure to
inspire by the true stories of what others have
accomplished. The pictures teach valuable les
sons about natural history, foreign lands,
strange peoples, wonderful pieces of archi-
lecture, art and music
All of life's schooling is not gained within
schoolhouse walls. The teacher can stimulate
the active boy or girl to want to know things
for himself, but no teacher and no textbook
Of bare outline can begin to answer all the
questions which arise in the mind of the inquir-
ing boy or girl. A complete encyclopaedia in the
homo is like university extension course
which is taken unconsciously and joyously,
year in and year out, even as we grow strong
through breathing fresh air and eating good
food.