GIFT - BOOKS.

MORE CHILDREN'S BOOKS.*

Princess Marie-loses Children's Book' is an excellent collection of short stories, verses, and pictures, by many well-known authors and artists, It is, indeed, above the average of interest, and is well worth • (1) Princess Marts-Jose's Children's Book. With 16 Colour Plates and a pro- fusion of Black-and-White Illustrations. London : Published for the Vestialre Marie-Josh by Cassell and Co. (76. 0d. net.)—(2) The Baia-Children: a Fairy Tale in Physics. By T. H. Orpen, M.A. With 7 Illustrations by C. E. Brock, R.I. London : S.P.C.K. 0d.}---(3) My Book of Bealdinti Legends. P.etoid by Christine Chauudler and Erie Wood. With 12 Illustrations In Colour by A. C. Michael. London : Cassell and Co. (0s.)—(4) Ancient Assyria. By Rev. James Bakis, P.B.A.S. With 16 Full-page Illustrations, those in Colour being by Constance N. BaJkle. London : A. and C. Black. [lc 6d. net.)--(3) Little Potts With hundreds of Colour and Black-and-White Illustrations. Vol. LXNXIV. London : Cassell and Co. (3s.0d.net.)—(6) Chatterbox Nrwe-Box. Lcndon : Wells Gardner, Barton, and Co. [1s. net 1--{7) Eitylith Nursery Rhymes. Selected and Edited by I.. Edna Walter, B.Sc., A.C.G.I. Harmonised by Lucy E. Broadwood. Illus- trated by Dorothy M. Wheeler. London: A. and C. Black. (is. net.)—(8) The Aferie a Putters Story Book for Children. Story by Christine Ltaundler. Pictures by Florence Mary Anderson. London : Cassell and Co. (Is. net.)— (9) Ths Perk-a-Boos in War Time. Told by bray Byron. Illustrated by Woe Preston. London : Henry Frowde and Hodder and Stoughton. [2s. ed. net.)— (10) Cinderella at the Zoo. Verses by B. Parker. Illustrated by N. Parker. London : W. and IL Chambers. [Os. net.)—(11) Cassell's Childron's Annual. With a large number of Pictures in Colour and Black-and-White. London : Cassell and Co, (3s. 6d. Collics's Children** Annual. London: Collins and Co. (3a. 6d. net.)—(13) The Tiny Folks' Annual. Edited by Mrs. Herbert Strang. London : . Henry. Fronde and Hodder and Stoughton. [2a. Od. net.)------(14) Leading Suing.. London: Welly Gardner, Garton. and Co. pa. ed. net ; cloth, 2s. ea. netJ

buying and reading for its own sake, as well as for that of the Belgian babies behind the fighting lino in Flanders, who will benefit in food and clothing by its sale. First comes a photogravure portrait of the little Princess whose country is being more horribly ravaged to-day by " loathly beasts" than was ever that of any fairy-tale counterpart, then some "War Limericks" by Mr. Zangwill, followed by Mr. H. G. Wells account of how little Anthony tamed a Zeppelin by kindness. After this we get to the short stories, some telling of everyday life, and others of fairyland, but all with more than a touch of the distinction and originality that we expect to find in the work of the writers whom the editor, Mrs. Haden Guest, has drawn round her. Besides the frontis piece, there aro a couple of dozen colour and black-and-white full-page plates, and the stories and verses are amusingly illustrated in the text. In this, as in all the other children's books that we have seen since the beginning of the war, there is very little direct reference to the enemy, but rather the children's thoughts and actions turn to the best means of serving the soldiers and of helping refugees with gifts and comradeship. The fundamental contrast between our own and the German point of view is emphasized in tho reflection of the war, as it is mirrored in the children's eyes.

The Rain-Childrens is another book with a double purpose, for a note to it tells us that " all Author's profits from the sale of this work will be divided between the Belgian and Scibian relief funds." It is called "A Fairy-Tale in Physics," and in it we can learn a great deal about the " transformation of moisture " and " the alternate, influence of Heat and Cold." This sounds a little tedious possibly, but the story is really full of charm. It begins and ends on Christmas Day, and this quotation will perhaps do more to show the reader something of the character of the book than several lines of explanation car our part :-- " Dear child," said the old man [Thaler]," it was but little after all that I could teach the world . . . Yes, I was only guessing when I called tho Rain-children the Cause of all things. I know better now, for I have seen the true Cause face to face. 1 have learned that it is He who in the beginning created the Heaven and the Earth."

The chapters are each prefaced by an apt quotation from a poet, and there are some good illustrations in colour and black-and-white.

In Ng Book of Beautiful Legends* we have a well-chosen collection of many of the famous stories of the world. The authors regretfully remark that " there are ever so many more stories that we should have liked to put into this book, if wo had had room for them," so perhaps we may hope for another volume in which the Egyptian, Indian, Pc-mien, and Chinese legends will find a place. Meanwhile wo cell enjoy this book to our hearts' content, from the capital little introduction dean to the story of " The Wandering Jew." Occasionally the authors' style is a thought too conversational, and we should like to see a different grouping of the chapters. For instance, tho Greek legends should be consecutive, and so should the Norse and the Celtic tales. But it is ungracious to do anything but praise a delightful book which will be read with pleasure by the right sort of grown-up people, as well, we feel sure, aa by all children. The illustrations are good examples of the three-colour process, and are full of spirit and interest.

Ancient Assyria* is an interesting addition to tho "Peeps at Many Lands " series. In it we get a lively and amusing account of the early explorations, and of life in " an Assyrian city 2,SCO years ago." We can follow King Ashur-natsir-pal on some exciting hunting expeditions and read of "The Wars of a Robber-Nation," the "true ancestor in bru- tality," as Mr. Baikie calls it, " of the modern robber-nation of Europe." The palaces, temples, and libraries are /acre well described, and there are some interesting chapters on the gods and heroes of the " ancient East," in which the author draws interesting comparisons with con- temporary Jewish history and legend. Among the details of every- day life we hear of the strict Sabbatarianism of the Assyrians. Even doctors there had a regular day of rest. Mr. Baikie thinks this was " silly," but we cannot help wondering if the Babylonish " general praotitionor " did not live a longer and a comparatively happier life than his prototype in the Europe of to-day. The photographs of statues and bas-reliefs are good, but the three-colour process has been unkind to Mrs. Baikie's illustrations.

The eighty-fourth volume of Lillie Folk** is as good as ever. Ti is no exaggeration to say that there is not a dull page in it. Two serial stories appeal to different tastes. One is of the time of Robin Hoes?, and the other tells of the modern "adventures of Madcap Guy," and will be read with equal pleasure by boys and girls. There are some good papers, called the " Literary Club Pages," and other " regular features," such as competitions, puzzles, hobbies, and nature study, and a "Section for Very Little Folks." The short stoi les are excellent, and the filen- trations adequate, though not all of them peculiar to this book. For instance, the full-page coloured illustration of Hope emerging from Pandora's Box is also to be found in My Book of Beautiful Legends.

The " Now Annual "—Chatterbox Neu-a-Box* is a capital book to dip into, In it an immense variety of men and things are written of In a simple and interesting fashion, and that fascinating but sometimes bewildering branch of education lightly called " General Knowledge " is here made to stand and deliver many pearls of information in a most satisfactory and entertaining manner. It is hard to choose a subject for special reference, among so many delightful things on which the reader can inform himself. but here are a few taken at random a--" About Fairy

Talcs," " Glorious Nicknames," " Localized Eatables," " Little War Rivers." Ho can also learn how to make a variety of small objects, such as eggstands and button cabinets, out of the simplest materials. The book has a coloured frontispiece and many other illustrations in black-and-v.

English Nursery Rhymes% Is a delightful collection of old nursery favourites, with pretty illustrations and page decorations in colour and black-and-white. The accompaniments to the songs are of the simplest kind possible, but the simplicity is the result of true artistic perception and a profound knowledge of these nursery folk tunes.

The Magic Kiss s is a charming little fairy-tale, gracefully told and prettily illustrated. Pierrot, the Fairy Queen's page, plays his part bravely, and is duly rewarded by the complete success which crowns his efforts to deliver the Princess Elva from enchantment.

In The Peek-a-Boos in War Time9 our old acquaintances Washington, Jane, and Jeuilma are now very busily engaged in seeking for war work t hat shall be to their taste, and they meet with all sorts of queer adven- tures in the search. They are as round in figure and as imperturbable in spirit as ever. The cover is embossed, and will no doubt give much satisfaction to young owners of the book.

Cinderella at the Zoo 10 shows us in picture and verse how the animals Ed about producing a pantomime. The parrot prompter is a striking and brilliant personage, and every page is full of jokes and merriment of all sorts.

('assell's Children's Arnud" and Collins's Children's Annualr= aro both large and gay-looking books fur little children, composed of simple stories, verses, and pictures. The coloured illustrations are, with a few good exceptions, garishly bright ; some of them, indeed, are really painfully brilliant. The latter volume opens with a pathetic story called " Peter's Prayer," telling of the return of a soldier father from a German prison. It ends happily, and probably will not strike the child reader as poignantly as older people.

It is a pleasure to turn from crudely coloured picture-books to Mrs. Herbert Strang's pretty volume, The Tiny Folks' Annual.13 The stories are as usual about nice little children, told in simple language, well illustrated in colour and black-and-white, and printed in very large, clear type on good paper. Leading Strip" is another picture-book, not so elegantly ornamented as the former, but still a capital nursery book.