The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-11-13
'CEILDREN'S BOOK WEEK

This week, which will be observed
throughout the reading population OF
IAmerica as National Children's Book
week." marks the third annual OBJ
6ervance of this notable event in, the
worlds history.
Birmingham, through its able IL
X brarian, Mr.. L. w. Josselyn, has
narched into line with enthusiasm
md vim, and will make the week one
pf unalloyed pleasure and happiness
10 the children as well as of educa-
tional benefit, and this year Mr.
Josselyn with his usual progressive
methods and fine ideas about all mat
hers pertaining to library work, has
outlined beautiful programme as
wen as furnishing valuable literature
pm the subject of "Children's Book
week"
Mr.. Josselyn for several weeks has
been enthusiastically employed in de-
&ivering messages of optimism to the
phildren all over the district in the
various schools. endeavoring TO get
the interest of all the children and
sirect the attention of the parents of
he children to the value and import
hnce of furnishing their children with
proper reading matter and giving
them the proper training I'm this line.
In talking with Mr.. Josselyn yes
terday regarding the third annual
observance of "Children's Book
week." which begins today, he said:
First of all, 1t is quite fitting and
proper that National Childrens
Book week this year has been
set for its opening on the
birthday of Robert Louis Steven
son, one of the most beloved
II To- 10 hga
said that Stevenson's books are the
most sociable that man has penned in
our time: and the quaint phrase
means that more than those of any
other modern author they give a
sense of companionship. and feel
hing that a most attractive. vital, en-
'thusiastic comrade is telling you
Notwithstanding with you his intense
Hove of the romance and adventure in
them. And this explains how, more
than any modern writer of stories,
he has attracted personal affection,
land how every reader-especiaHy
every young reader--is almost as
much interested in the life of this
man who never grew old, as in the
wonderful tales he wrote.
work with the child Is perhaps
the most interesting and surely the
most worth while of any business or
profession" Mr.. Josselyn continued,
and yet parents as well as teachers
Isometimes fail to realize one phase
lin its full Importance. 1t is that of
Ichildrens reading. 1t is this subject
II shall attempt to develop dealing
Especially with the tools which must
be used to carry on this work.
PLEASE make distinction between
|the school book and the library book
|To a great extent the former Is a
text book and the child soon thinks
|of It as a study book, said Mr.
|Josselyn. Sometimes there is joy
land interest in its reading, and some
times there is the opposite. The Ii
|brarv Nook always is a book of JOY
|of pleasure, and of keen satisfaction.
There Is no idea of compulsion. While
the school teaches the mechanics OF
Reading, the sheer love must come
|from outside reading, with no idea Of
assignment, compulsion of got to,
land it behooves us to have the best
|of literature always before the child.
That little spark of reading for joy
|kindled by the teacher must be
brought to a great flame. Parents
would be surprised to realize that
many children receive their entire
education in so books, about 80 of
them being primers and readers with
hardly one great book among them.
Retaliation that the children OF
America must have more books and
better books in the home is the rea.
son for our national children's book
week, November 13 to 10. Book pub
Fishers, the National Federation of
Women's clubs. the national Boy
Scouts organization, and many other
of our great educational and social
welfare organizations are backing
this week to the utmost" said Mr..
Josselyn.
IAN attractive and very useful ex-
hfbit of the best books for children
is In the Central library during this
book week. There is also an inter-
esting exhibit of SO different editions
of Mother Goose and several very an
cient childrens books. the Oldest be-
and Se06 years old" Mr.. Josselyn
said. Previous to the educational
theories of Rousseau, little was writ
ton Intentionally for children, but we
may go back perhaps to the six
teenth century horn book. for our
first child's book. First, let me ONT
out an earlier book. in fact, one of
our first books. This is an old Baby
ionian tablet dug from the ruins of
Nineveh. Three thousand, nine hum,
dred years ago this book was in The
library of Assur- bani-pa1. The. Did
horn book of the sixteenth century
was simply a sheet of paper covered
x.yx+x. /, thin t,ieca NJ horn the whole