Evening star., 1933-11-13
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRAcEWEEL.

ing himself or others that he can select
the books smaller readers win enjoy.
1t Is up to them individually, In every
case, and with every book.
y "
Yet there ere certain qualities the
best children,s books have In common.
They are natural.
There is no straining for effect In
them. but the book grows naturally out
OF the theme, and forms o veritable
part Of 1t.
Few readers stop to think that the
most famous treasure island" actually
exists and has its very being In the
book itself Were 1t not for the book,
there would be none, at least not
that one.
No doubt a book written with too
much OF an eye on the little ones them
selves defeats itself, mainly because it
does not catch the spirit Of its possible
readers.
Such book must be genuine.
That is, it must be real kid stuff, |"
whether SO intended or not.
All the taking thought in the world
won't achieve 1t, If the author isn't in
terested himself or herself.
There has been a great deal written
about the Child mind" but actually
that mind is one which has not been
struck yet by the many adult inven-
tions which make life something of a
bore and also great deal Of a ..-agedy.
Although the seeds of war, for In
stance. are In every boy, 1t is the adult
mind, not the Juvenile, which creates
these international situations" one
hears 50 much about periodically.
X X u
A good child's book must be actual
that Is, it must deal with real things
of the everyday life. This does not
mean wheels and cows, necessarily; it
may mean the imaginative things which
every human mind can create on the
basis Of wheels and cows and rabbits
and other real things, whether alive or
lnanimate. The transference of life
to toys, for instance, Is very easy, once
one gets into the mood.
It will not do to saw. either. AZ sorne
do, that the juvenile moods pass with
the years. and never return.
1t Is all matter of workmanship.
II o chtld's book Is done In a COM
petent manner, II 1t achieves a mood,
and sets It forth adequately, every one
who loves books, old or young, will
recognize its merit and find something
worthwhile In 1t.
One may feel sorry for these very
solemn persons who have no time" as
they say, for an inspection Of the newer
children's books mostly because they do
not have enough time to. read the more
mature efforts.
X \ X
There Is growing suspicion in many
minds that this fabulous thing known
as million dollars Is no more unreal
than Peter Rabbit in his frock coat and
high hat. Most of us will no more see
one than the other.
Too much human time, perhaps. IS
more or less wasted by average men and
women in the contemplation of things
for which Nature never designed them.
Why Is 1t any better to read about a
mystical thing known as the gold
standard, which only Wiggin under
stands, than story of fine dog or
cat, which every one knows?
The themes Of typically good chill
drens books are happy themes, bright
with the colors of the best that is In
humanity.
Because most persons recognize this,
in their hearts, one sees scores of older
persons browning over the tables of chill
dren's books at this time of year, intent
on finding, If only for a moment,
road along which no bayonets glean.