Children’s Book Week

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27435, 23 August 1954, Page 10

Children’s Book Week

The annual Children’s Book Week occurs this year at a time when many persons are concerned about' the reading matter that is getting into children's hands. Many more persons- than usual should be interested, therefore, in this combined effort by education authorities, libraries, publishers and booksellers to direct wide attention to the good literature that is available for young readers, and to encourage its use. In a very real way, Children’s Book Week is a positive approach to the problem of the so-called “ comics The answer to that problem may lie partly in suppression—but qnly in extreme cases. The answer really lies in cultivating taste that will provide standards, for judgment. It is more important that youngsters should be able to recognise rubbish than that they should'-'be forced to accdpt the arbitral judgments of their elders—particularly when they see that many older persons are keen buyers, and presumably avid readers, of "comics”. The natural tesponse of young persons to condemnation by adults is curiosity about what is being condemned. That curiosity is turned to excellent purpose when the child's judgment is able to confirm that of the. adult adviser. Children’s Book Week includes, displays that show parents and guardians, but particularly children, what is currently available to satisfy the youngster’s need for reading matter that will cultivate good taste and judgment, as well as entertain and educate. Though commercial advantage and competition naturally play their parts in developing the children’s book trade, ' it is proper to say that the reputable publishers are showing a deep sense of responsibility to the children’s book trade. That inclination, coupled with vision, has placed the recent output of children’s books on a very high level of literary and artistic quality. New writers, who write appealingly and without < condescension for youngsters, have been discovered and encouraged, and many of the old books—which i

parents knew and loved in their own childhood—have been reissued in new and very lovely dresses. Publishers and booksellers of repute are fully supporting the devoted work of many librarians and teachers, which strives to provide children with good literature. Such excellent service merits the interest and support of parents and guardians during Children’s Book ! Week.