The sun., 1919-07-20

children Is bulky but uneXcltlng.
Numerous articles in derogation of the
humdrum course of children's literature
during the past twelve months had led US
to speculate hopefully on what manner
of jolt we might expect. The authors of
those articles were evidently rebels and
not reformers. At any rate, things are
jogging along very much as always, with
no signs of Bolshevism, Cubism or 1mag
ism on the child's literary horizon, and
the rut is growing deeper all the time. The
nearest approach TO new paths is Rebels
and Reformers, by Arthur and Dorothea
Ponsonby, the first book to bring within
the reach of young readers the
lives of such mean as Savonarola, Voltaire
and Tolstoy. The twelve figures selected
were chosen partly because their relation
to reform is not generally known. They
are handled with admirable cOnciseness
and lucidity, in rapid little paintings
rather than bare outlines.
Frank Baum, the author of The Wizard
of o., who died last spring, left two more
of his famous Or books. The Magic Of
OF, which is the first of them to be given
the public, will delight the children with
its charming fantasy and easy style. 1t
is illustrated in colors by John X. NELL
and will make suitable gift book for a
child between and 10.
The Adventures of Ttoinkly -EyeS-The
Little Black Bear, by Allen Chaffee, gives
a taste of biology, botany, zoology and
meteorology disguised in fiction form.
ANY good friend of little children knows
that however much they may dread meet
ing bears in the dark, they adore being
read to about them. The stories of
Twinkly Eyes and his roly-poly cub
brother are for bedtime, and with this end
in view the author has seen to it that no
animal hero is ever killed. He has also
explained the big words and connected
his chapters in such a way that the book
may be read a chapter an evening. Peter
Daru has given it delightful illustrations.
Standing alone in the place where the
poetry ought to be is Al Round Our
House, small volume of innocuous
verses by Rupert S. Holland, with draw
ings in black and white by Samuel Pal
mer. ToGdstoOLs, from. which we quote,
is one of the most successful:
l found ring Of toadstools,
Yellow, pink and white,
But not single toad or frog
Was anywhere in sight.
Perhaps the toads sit on them
And so keep their feet dry:
But should think that toads would find
The footstools rather high.
Maud Lindsay and Emile Poulsson
have elaborated in The Joyous Trdr-
eHers, a species of Canterbury tales
for children, the stories by Miss Lindsay
and ballads by Miss Poulsson. The
book, which is prettily brought out, is
of fair passing interest. There are Stories
Of Great Adventures adapted from the
classics by Carolyn Sherwin Bailey in the
hope Of stimulating the powers of moral
reasoning In the young. Miss Bailey is
indefatigable in her efforts on behalf of
the children and is a nursery favorite be-
cause her collections are always good. The
inclusion of old familiars not easily found
and several new selections are attractive
features of Elva S. Smiths Good Old Sto-
ries for Boys and Girls, book that pre-
sents a pleasing variety of tales humor-
Gus, legendary, allegorieal or heroic,
fairy stories, and narratives in verse.
There is small relevancy in giving William
Blake's Tiger and other poems that tell
no story.
Types Of Chi7dren's Literature, by
Walter Barnes, is intended primarily for
students, being the result Of the authors
experience In teaching classes in children's
literature at the Virginia State Normal
School INIT will no found conDrphpnciye