Eight Years of Age
Reading edition
And I wrote my happy songs,
Every child may joy to hear
.
Blake.
Amusements And Handicraft
By sports like these are all their cares beguil'd,
The sports of children satisfy the child.
Goldsmith.
The Games Book For Boys And Girls
.
Dutton. 2.50
Indoor and outdoor games, tricks and puzzles, the making of various articles, and the care of home pets, are some of the subjects treated in this volume of old and new pastimes.
Biography, History, And Government
The use of history is to give value to the present hour and its duty.
Emerson.
Boutet De Monvel, L. M.
Joan of Arc. Illustrated by the Author. Century. 3.00
In these truly remarkable pictures, instinct with spirit, dignity, and pathos, the peasant girl of Domrémy, martyr and patron saint, lives for children. The book is a large oblong one with full-page illustrations in color. While the text is somewhat advanced for children of eight years, the pictures really tell, the story.
Eggleston, Edward.
Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans. American Book. .40
A collection of many noted tales with which all of our children should be familiar. It includes Franklin's Whistle, Putnam and the Wolf, and Daniel Boone and his Grapevine Swing.
Mythology, Folk-lore, Legends, And Fairy Tales
Even John Locke (1632-1704), in his Thoughts on Education (1693), recommends, besides the Psalter and the New Testament, Æsop and Reynard the Fox, as good food for infant minds. This was an excellent basis to start upon.
Montrose J. Moses.
Adventures Of Reynard The Fox
.
Edited by W. T. Stead. Review. .05
There is no entirely satisfactory edition, for children, of this classic. The language of one edited by Jacobs seems to the compiler of this list somewhat unsuited to small people, and E. L. Smythe in her version substitutes an entirely different ending for that of the original. This very inexpensive little book has more than a hundred interesting small pictures, and children will love to read of bad Reynard, who is told about in diverting fashion.
Æsop
.
The Fables of Æsop. Edited by Joseph Jacobs. Illustrated by Richard Heighway. Macmillan. 1.50
It is difficult to say what are and what are not the Fables of Æsop.... In the struggle for existence among all these a certain number stand out as being the most effective and the most familiar. I have attempted to bring most of these into the following pages.--Preface.
Children cannot read an easier, nor men a wiser book.
Thomas Fuller.
Brown, A. F.
The Book of Saints and Friendly Beasts. Houghton. 1.25
These sweet tales of the saints of long ago and their little brothers the beasts have a gentle influence. The stories include that of Saint Bridget and the King's Wolf, Saint Fronto's Camels, Saint Rigobert's Dinner, and Saint Francis of Assisi.
Brown, A. F.
In the Days of Giants. Illustrated by E. Boyd Smith. Houghton. 1.10
The old Norse myths acceptably told.
Carroll, Lewis
(Pseudonym of C. L. Dodgson).
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Illustrated by John Tenniel. Macmillan. 1.00
First told in 1862 to the little Liddell girls. It was written out for Alice Liddell, was published, and the first copy given to her in 1865.
The illustrations are those which appeared in the original issue. Many artists have tried their hand in making pictures for "Alice," but none have succeeded in displacing those of John Tenniel.
Extract from the diary of C. L. Dodgson: July 4, 1862.--I made an expedition up the river to Godstow with the three Liddells; we had tea on the bank there, and did not reach Christ Church till half-past eight.... On which occasion I told them the fairy tale of Alice's Adventures Underground, which I undertook to write out for Alice.
"Alice! a childish story take, And with a gentle hand Lay it where Childhood's dreams are twined In Memory's mystic band, Like pilgrim's withered wreath of flowers Plucked in a far-off land."
Carroll, Lewis
(Pseudonym of C. L. Dodgson).
Alice in Wonderland. Illustrated by Arthur Rackham. Doubleday. 1.40
Those wishing to depart from John Tenniel's illustrations will find these pictures of Arthur Rackham very interesting. We are given delightful black and white work, though most of the full-page pictures are in color.
Enchanting Alice! Black-and-white
Has made your deeds perennial;
And naught save "Chaos and old Night"
Can part you now from Tenniel;
But still you are a Type, and based
In Truth, like Lear and Hamlet;
And Types may be re-draped to taste
In cloth of gold or camlet.
Austin Dobson.
Carroll, Lewis
(Pseudonym of C. L. Dodgson).
Through the Looking-Glass. Illustrated by John Tenniel. Macmillan. 1.00
The sequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The illustrations are the same as those that appeared in the original edition.
"To the Looking-Glass world it was Alice that said, 'I've a sceptre in hand, I've a crown on my head. Let the Looking-Glass creatures, whatever they be, Come and dine with the Red Queen, the White Queen, and me!'"
Collodi, C.
(Pseudonym of Carlo Lorenzini).
Pinocchio, The Adventures of a Marionette. Illustrated by Charles Copeland. Ginn. .40
Of all the fairy stories of Italian literature this is the best known and the best loved.... The Florentines call it a literary jewel, and as such it should be known to all young readers.--Preface.
Though children can but dimly comprehend this charming allegory, they will recognize its truth. Pinocchio, the wayward and mischievous marionette, through his kindly actions grows to be a real little boy, with an unselfish loving heart. There are many attractive drawings.
Cruikshank, George
(Illustrator).
The Cruikshank Fairy Book. Putnam. 2.00
Puss in Boots, Jack and the Bean-Stalk, Hop-o'-my-Thumb, and Cinderella, are the four famous fairy tales pictured by this famous illustrator.
Judd, M.C.
Wigwam Stories. Ginn. .75
The book is divided into three parts: Sketches of Various Tribes of North American Indians; Traditions and Myths; and Stories Recently Told of Hiawatha and Other Heroes. It is interesting and informing. There are three sketches by Angel de Cora, and many illustrations from photographs.
La Fontaine, Jean De.
La Fontaine's Fables. Translated by Edward Shirley. Illustrated by C.M. Park and Rene Bull. Nelson. 1.50
An acceptable selection in verse. There are illustrations in color as well as in black and white.
"These fables are much more than they appear-- The simplest animals are teachers here. The bare dull moral weariness soon brings; The story serves to give it life and wings."
Lang, Andrew
(Editor).
The Blue Fairy Book. Longmans. 2.00
This first volume of Andrew Lang's colored fairy books contains the better known tales from the folk-lore of many nations, and is, like the others of this series, attractively illustrated.
And when the cuckoo clamours six
We put away our games and bricks
And hasten to the shelf where hang
The books of Mr. Andrew Lang.
. . . . . . . . .
And when we read the Red, the Blue,
The Green--small matter what's the hue
Since joy is there in black and white--
Remember him who cared to write,
For little ones, tales old and sweet,
And ask the fairies (when you meet)
To always keep unharmed and well
From ogre's maw and witch's spell,
From genie's clutch and dragon's fang,
The kind magician, Andrew Lang!
St. John Lucas.
Mulock, D. M.
(Mrs. D. M. (M.) Craik).
The Adventures of a Brownie. Harper. .60
"Only I think, if I could be a little child again, I should exceedingly like a Brownie to play with me. Should not you?"
We should all say yes, after reading this charming modern fairy story.
Musset, Paul De.
Mr. Wind and Madam Rain. Illustrated by Charles Bennett. Putnam. 2.00
A famous Breton folk-tale which is made additionally attractive by the unusual quality of the illustrations.
I will not say that I have added nothing to the unconnected recitals of the Breton peasants, ... but I have added only what was necessary to link together the different events, and to supply passages that were entirely wanting.--Preface.
Paine, A. B.
The Hollow Tree and Deep Woods Book. Illustrated by J. M. Condé. Harper. 1.50
Mr. Paine writes in his delightful vein of Mr. Coon, Mr. Possum, and Mr. Crow. The book is always funny, and Mr. Condé's pictures are in their way as good as the text.
Williston, T. P.
Japanese Fairy Tales. Illustrated by Sanchi Ogawa. Rand. .50
These eight wonder stories incidentally illustrate the every-day life of the people. The Japanese pictures are reproduced in color.
Poetry, Collections Of Poetry And Prose, And Stories Adapted From Great Authors
So, in this matter of literature for the young, the influence of the home teaching is enormous; all the school can do pales before it. Let the mother add to the poet's rhyme the music of her soft and beloved voice; let great fiction be read to the breathless group of curly heads about the fire; and the wonders of science be enrolled, the thrilling scenes and splendid personalities of history displayed. Children thus inspired may be trusted to become sensitive to literature long before they know what the word means, or have reasoned at all upon their mental experiences.
Richard Burton.
Lucas, E. V.
(Editor).
A Book of Verses for Children. Holt. 2.00
Mr. Lucas has shown his unvarying good taste in compiling this charming volume. Most of the poems are British, and among them are many delightful old songs and rhymes, verses of bygone days, ballads, and carols.
Wiggin, K. D. (S.)
, and
N. A. Smith
(Editors).
The Posy Ring. Doubleday. 1.25
This admirable collection of poems, chosen from the standpoint of childish enjoyment, forms a lane of lovely verse leading into the great highway of literature. The poems are classified under different headings such as The Flower Folk, Other Little Children, Playtime, Story time, and Bedtime.
Religion And Ethics
Honest myrth in measure, is a pleasaunt thyng,
To wryte and to rede well, be gyftes of learnyng;
Remember this well, all you that be young,
Exercise vertue, and rule well your toung.
Dives Pragmaticus. 1563.
Bunyan, John.
The Pilgrim's Progress. Illustrated by the Brothers Rhead. Century. 1.50
Children will enjoy the fine illustrations in this soberly bound volume, whose brown coat is much the color of the one good Pilgrim wore on the long journey where he led the way for so many earnest souls.
The Psalms Of David.
With an introductory study by N.D. Hillis. Illustrated by Louis Rhead. Revell. 2.50
No David can fall so low but that Christ's mercy and God's love can lift him from the depths of selfishness and sin back to the throne of manhood and the sceptre of influence.--Introductory Study.
Even young children can grow to love the simpler and more peaceful Psalms. The fine full-page pictures in this large well-printed volume add to its beauty and interest.
Science, Out-of-door Books, And Stories Of Animals
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.
Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colors,
He made their tiny wings.
. . . . . . . .
He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell,
How great is God Almighty,
Who hath made all things well.
Keble.
Aiken, John
, and
A.L. (A.) Barbauld.
Eyes and No Eyes, and Other Stories. Heath. 20
"Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, in Over the Teacups, says of the story Eyes and No Eyes: I have never seen anything of the kind half so good. I advise you, if you are a child anywhere under forty-five, and do not yet wear glasses, to send at once for Evenings at Home, and read that story. For myself, I am always grateful to the writer of it for calling my attention to common things."
Eyes and No Eyes, and Travellers' Wonders, from Aiken and Barbauld's Evenings at Home, The Three Giants, by Mrs. Marcet, and A Curious Instrument, by Jane Taylor, are the tales given. They all encourage a child's powers of observation.
Parsons, F. T. (S.)
(formerly Mrs. W.S. Dana).
Plants and Their Children. American Book. .65
While these elementary talks have been arranged to accompany the school year, they give so much information about fruits and seeds, young plants, roots and stems, flowers, et cetera, told in Mrs. Dana's clear, informing way, that we shall all want our children to know the book, and to learn the great lesson of how to see, which is taught them. The many illustrations are helpful.
Weed, C. M.
Stories of Insect Life. Volume I. Ginn. .25
The insects described are the more interesting common forms of Spring and early Summer. The plain little volume contains twenty short, fully illustrated chapters.
Stories
The fiction which children first hear should be adapted in the most perfect manner to the promotion of virtue.
Plato.
Aanrud, Hans.
Lisbeth Longfrock. Ginn. .65
A vivid description of Norwegian farm and saeter life. Little Lisbeth loses her mother and goes to live with the good Kjersti, the mistress of Hoel Farm, helping to take care of the cattle.
Hans Aanrud's short stories are considered by his own countrymen as belonging to the most original and artistically finished life pictures that have been produced by the younger literati of Norway.--Preface.
Carové, F.W.
The Story without an End. With a preface by Thomas Wentworth Higginson. Heath. .25
There is a very delightful old story which used to be given to children, though I have not seen it for a long time in the hands of any children. It was called The Story without an End.
Walter Besant.
Written by an eminent German philosopher, and translated by Mrs. Sarah Austin for her own daughter, this beautiful tale, with its exquisite language, leads a child into the land of truth and beauty.
Peary, J. (D.)
.
The Snow Baby. Stokes. 1.20
An account of Lieutenant Peary's little daughter, who was born amid the ice and snow of the Polar regions. The book is well illustrated from photographs.
Snedden, G. (S.)
.
Docas, the Indian Boy of Santa Clara. Heath. .35
Three phases of Indian life in California, given in the form of a story. The ways and customs of the red man are described as they existed during the early days of this boy, before the coming of the whites. Later Docas had his home at the Mission in the days of Father Junipero Serra, and last of all, an old old man, dwelt, with his children and grandchildren, on a ranch.