YOUNG READERS

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28050, 18 August 1956, Page 3

YOUNG READERS

The heart oi a romantic child will thrill to THE CASKET AND THE SWORD, by Norman Dale. (James Barrie.) It is an ingenious story by a competent author. Here in one book is an ancient mansion containing all the beloved secret passages and rooms, a wonderful forest with wild animals and three plucky and extraordinarily efficient children fighting in an exciting guerrilla fashion for their in-

heritance. Though it is rather overendowed with highly imaginative situations “The Casket and the Sword” is written by an author who employs fine restrained language and who has a real gift for making his tale convincing.

MANDALA TRAIL, by Wilfred Robertson (Geoffrey Cumberlege, Oxford University Press) is a grand adventure story for boys. It is set in Nyassaland in the early days of white settlement. A young fellow of 19 is engaged by a company which is pushing trading posts far into the interior; Mr Robertson links the young man’s story with the white man’s campaign against the slave traders. His knowledge of Africa and its history enables Mr Robertson to give young readers a vivid introduction to the African scene.

Set in America, several hundreds of years ago, THE MOON OF SNOWSHOES by Donald Suddaby (Oxford University Press) is a story of Red Indian life. It begins with the initiation of a young Crow Indian boy, who. while away “forming his magic” is captured by an unfriendly tribe. This, the first of his ordeals, in his growth to manhood, is followed by a series of adventures each of which is a trial of strength, culminating in a journey to the Atlantic seaboard where there is an unhappy encounter with a landing party of white men. While the whole book is an essay in “fine writing,” to quote two examples, “the deathinvaded body” of an injured animal, and “golden floors made bright all the woods.” which some readers may find too artificial and exasperating, this is much better than the average Red Indian tale. Although the author is bloodthirsty enough in his acount to satisfy any boy of 11 to 14 years, he is rather carried away by the idea of the “noble savage.” At the same time, he does make a genuine attempt to present a full and sympathetic picture of Red Indian life.

The same high standard of production we have come to expect in the last few years from the Children’s book publishing department of O.U.P. is fully maintained in Barbara Leonie Picard’s latest book, RANSOM FOR A KNIGHT. Barbara Picard has established a high reputation in her re tellings of traditional as well as original tales of heroic times. This is her first appearance as a historical novelist in this story of Alys de Renneville. who suffers dangers, hardships and illness in her long journey from Sussex to ransom her father captured at Bannockburn. Though the character of Alys is rounded and alive, the treatment of the people met on the roads tends to be highlighted into medieval types—only a minor blemish in a tale full of colour, action and spirit. Miss Picard gives substantial evidence that she has based her story on accurate historical data in a concluding note and in acknowledgements to authorities on medieval history Walter Hodges’ competent illustrations are exactly in tone with the story, but what a pity a map of the road was not included.

It would be better if Alastair Mars, D. 5.0.. D.S.C.. the author of SUBMARINE AT BAY (Elek Books) were to confine his writing activities to straight non-fiction accounts of the workings of a submarine for the information of the mechanically minded boy. As a writer, this is clearly where his competence ends. It would be difficult to find a greater lack of literary ability than in a book such as this, in which international gangsters, cardboard type characters, gas guns, racial prejudice, inaccurate pidginEn^lish—and the cliche—are so tightly packed. The illustrations are completely in harmony with the general style of the book.

CORRIGAN AND THE WHITE COBRA, by R. B. Maddock (Nelson) is an adventure story which begins when an airliner makes a forced landing in the Burmese jungle. Corrigan (18), a girl passenger, and two adult passengers have troubles with the country and dacoits; but right triumphs in the lend.

THE FOREST OF QUOUELUNDE, by Michel Rouge (Max Parrish) gives English readers a story which has been an outstanding success in France. The story tells what happens to four boys and a girl after they succeed in entering caves under the romantic Mont Saint-Michel. This tense, exciting French yarn is ably presented in George Libraire’s translation.

Elinor Lyon is now a thoroughly well-established writer of children's stories. Her latest book DRAGON CASTLE (Hodder and Stoughton) is actually a first-rate novel in which the boy hero and his friends uncover the secret castle in Wales. Miss Lyon is an excellent story-teller with an adroit gift for using convincing conversation. Nicodemus, a little black boy, is one of the most popular characters among readers of children’s , 'books in America —and deservedly so. Nicodemus will enchant the tots, and adults will enjoy reading Nicodemus’s stories to them. Mothers will love the novelty of a little fun with the negro vernacular (“Lawdy, Lawdy”), and the dog in the family will surely become the “houn’ dog.” Two Nicodemus books published by J. M. Dent are NICODEMUS AND THE LITTLE BLACK PIG and NICODEMUS AND HIS NEW SHOES. In each book, Inez Holden draws the pictures and tells a simple, amusing little story.

ROMMEL'S BIRTHDAY PARTY, by Anthony Richardsdn (Max Parrish) is a story based on the attempt by a groifp of commandos led by Colonel Keyes, V.C., to capture Field Marshal Rommel in the Western Desert. An Arab boy and a British agent who could pass as an Arab add colour to an episode which itself was full of thrill and action.

Older girls who enjoyed Margaret Govan s “The Trail of the Red Canoe” will welcome her new book, THE TRA!L OF THE BROKEN SNOWSHOE (J. M. Dent). Once again her heroine is Betty Morton, who writes her story m the first person. This time Betty finds her adventure in North Ontario in the winter. Margaret Govan produces the Canadian winter scene beautifully, and her teen-agers are delightful girls with just the right amount of sophistication.

ANIMAL DOCTOR, by Laurence Meynell (Geoffrey Cumberlege, Oxford Press) is a “career book” that will interest many young New Zealanders, dealing as "it does with the training of a veterinary surgeon. Mr Meynell’s readers accompany a young man through his training at the Royal Veterinary College in London and with him in his first year in practice. Authentic details of the training of a “vet” will fascinate many youngsters.

R. F. Delderfield, best known as a writer of stage comedies (his “Worm’s Eye View” is well-known to New Zealand audiences) has turned with some success to historical fiction in THE ADVENTURES OF BEN GUNN (Hodder and Stoughton), an attempt to give the earlier lives of such famous characters in “Treasure Island” as Long John Silver. Pew. Ben Gunn, Israel Hands and Billy Bones. The result is a unique and exciting adventure yarn. Some of its chapters pick up the threads from “Treasure Island” itself, giving Gunn’s viewpoint, instead of that of Jim Hawkins of the famous battle on the island. Lovers of “Treasure Island” wil find this work of considerable interest.

One of the aims of present-day publishers is to give the modern child opportunities to inform itself about the world in which it lives. For young children, such books as INSIDE THE ATOM and THE WONDER WORLD OF STRANGE PLANTS (in Max Parrish’s colour book series) give insights to science and nature study in attractive and understandable forms.

THE STORY OF DAVY CROCKETT, by Enid Lamont Meadowcroft (Frederick Muller) is obviously a story designed to catch a vogue. Students of American history may question some of the details, but youngsters will enjoy a simply-told story about the childhood, upbringing, and manhood of a man-of-the-moment.

Stephen Tring’s schoolgirl, Penny Andrews, reappears in PENNY DRAMATIC (Geoffrey Cumberlege, Oxford University Press). The likeable Penny, now 15, and head of her form, plays a leading part in the form’s production of "Dear Brutus.”