A Selection From Offerings For Children’s Book Week

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31143, 20 August 1966, Page 4

A Selection From Offerings For Children’s Book Week

When Tui stays with her youthful Aunt Adrienne in the old Northland homestead she meets her ancestors—an amiable family of ghosts who tell her about the past and have the future satisfactorily organised. Doris Binyon White offers girls a mixture of fantasy and romance with a New Zealand setting in THE FAMILY THAT CAME BACK (Minerva, 143 pp.).

When Pablo Picasso comes to Valauris, the potters' wheels turn again. If Picasso paints a face for Henri, the baker's son, it is Henri who makes “Picassos hands." HENRI'S HANDS FOR PABLO PICASSO (AbelardSchuman. 61 pp.) by Helen Kay, is a pleasing story for children six and over.

William Stevenson’s remarkable story for girls, THE BUSHBABIES (Hutchinson, 192 pp.) is out on its own. The author's eleven-year-old daughter Jackie left the ship on which her family had just embarked and set off with Tembo, her father’s former African assistant, to walk across Africa and return her pet “bushbaby” to its homeland where its chances of survival would be greatest. They met every kind of natural hazard and their task was complicated by the assumption that Jackie had been kidnapped and that her African friend and protector should be shot on sight. It is an amazing story, very strongly; recommended.

J. M. Dent's Pennant book series comprises reprints of books for children that have been published in the last 10 years or so. The Pennant titles are very well selected and offer to young readers books of high quality, in uniform bindings, at very low cost. Additions to the fifty titles in the series are DANGER ROCK, by Richard Armstrong. BRACKEN, MY DOG, by Kitty Barne, LAPLAND OUTLAW, by Arthur Catherall, THE HOUSE IN CORNWALL, by Noel Streat-I feild, and RED PENNONS j FLYING, by Joyce Reason. |

Sequels are rarely as satis-1 fving as their originals, but in THE JOURNEY OF THE ELDEST SON (Oxford University Press. 214 pp.) J. G. Fyson has produced a fitting companion to “The Three Brothers of Ur.” In her latest book she deals with the journeyings of the eldest of the three brothers. Shamashazir, after he becomes separated from his cousin’s caravan en route to the White Mountains and is befriended by nomadic Accadian shepherds of the tribe of Enoch. It all happened 4000 years ago. but the author's knowledge of her period and her skill as a story-teller combine to present an absorbing adventure story I against a convincingly authen-i tic background.

Here is a book to charm parents and children alike, a book to dip into or read aloud. In CHILDREN OF THE SALMON, and Other Irish Folk tales, (Longmans, 344 pp), Eileen O’Faolain has brought together a rich collection of traditional stories and legends from many sources. Some of the stories were recorded at the firesides of Gaelic story-tellers, as they retold tales hitherto handed on only by word-of-mouth, and these Mrs O'Faolain has herself translated and arranged. The fifty or so stories in the book are

divided into three categories —Fairy Stories, Wonder Tales and Animal Stories, and are illustrated with the captivating drawings of a young American artist, Trina Hyman. The material presentation of the book is of an exceptionally high standard—the paper smooth and heavyweight, the print clear and inviting. This is the second such book by Eileen O'Faolain. Her previous one was “Irish Sagas and Folktales.” In her very comprehensive preface, this Gaelic-speaking grandmother says that the language of her countrymen is, “concrete. common and vivid,” and then uses a further phrase that could well be used to describe her own narrative style in this book: “Fine racy talk poured out with energy and imagination."

This is an exciting little book for the 16-12 year-olds, with ingredients they will thrive on—horses, dogs. PonjClubs, warm friendships and a scheme to save up and buy a pony that really works. THE PONY FUND, by Betty Horsfield (Max Parrish. 103 pp). is the well-told tale of thirteen year-old Jane Andrews of Applefield Cottage. who has the happy idea of boarding dogs and buying a new pony with the proceeds.

While the Penderel children are staying with their grandmother for the holidays, they set out to explore an old

house which their father hopes to buy. In THE PENDEREL I HOUSE (Gollancz. 160 pp.) Winifred Mantel skilfully interweaves the children's activities. the fortunes of their parents and of a Thai princess into a closely written and con-

Those who read THE BEEDY BOOK, by Wendy White (Odhams. 128 pp.), are doubly rewarded. Not only can they enjoy a gloriously funny fantasy about three teddy bears, illustrated with hilarious zest by Roewl Friers, they also have the satisfaction of knowing that all proceeds from sales of this delightful book are devoted to the Save The Children Fund, to which the author dedicates it. Nobody knows just what a Bcedy is, except teddy Bears and they can’t tell. Nevertheless, Mrs White somehow makes them seem very real beings, while the I artist succeeds admirably in ; implying, without depicting their presence. There is a gripping adventure story in TREASURE TO THE EAST, by Patricia Leitch (Gollancz, 128 pp.), and also an allegory of the triumph of faith. Darien has been for five years a slave of the evil lord Voltz, when he is rescued by an old man called Theophilus who says he was sent to look for a boy to travel East with him. Theophilus is in charge of a treasure which must be taken to the East when the end of all things is at hand. Voltz

! wants to get the treasure in I order to have power in the I new world which will come, : but he cannot harm Theophilus or Darien unless they allow it by their foolishness. After the travellers are shipwrecked Darien lets himself be persuaded into joining a hunt while Theophilus is still asleep, and this gives the servants of Voltz their chance to carry Theophilus off to the cells under the city of Diz. Darien is enabled to redeem his error by the devotion and self-sacrifice of others, men and animals, until at last the treasure is safe and the city of sin is vanquished. Although the main line of the allegory is straightforward, the reviewer felt reservations about many of the subordinate details, but these will probably not worry children of the age group for whom it is intended, nine to twelve year olds.

There is a fascinating and remarkable story in LITTLE KATIA, by E. M. Almedingen (O.U.P. 194 pp.), which is a true account of the life of a young girl in Russia during the last century. Catherine Almedingen, bom in St. Petersburg, was taken by a cousin to live on a country (estate, after her mother died, i When some years later the cOusin died also, Catherine 'was returned to the care of her father and his second wife. In later years she became a leading writer for children in Russia, and her autobiography of childhood was first published in 1874. Catherine’s great-niece has made this English version by careful selection from the original, leaving out much of the detail that would be unintelligible to non-Russians without explanation. The result is- a vivid and lively story of Imperial Russia, and Katia will certainly win friends abroad as successfully as she did at home. The book is particularly suitable for girls of 10 years and over. I

LA PETITE FAMILLE, by Sesyle Joslin and John Alcorn (Hamish Hamilton, 36 pp.), is a delightful book in French for young readers. It contains four little cumulative stories, for example “Sur la table il y a le pain, la salade, le rosbif, les petits fours et la sourie. . .” Each noun has a splendid Edwardian illustration, and it is a good book even for children not yet learning French, to give them an idea of the sound of that language.

Roy Parsons was old to be starting at Grammar School and was not sure whether he would fit in. Before he was accepted as one of the “Three P’s,” Roy was involved in some entertaining and surprising developments. Laurence Meynell’s BREAK FOR SUMMER (Hamish Hamilton. 158 pp.) is a most satisfying story of school and holiday adventures for boys 9 and over.

Jack's father had been drowned the day before he was born. Sixteen years later Jack sets out with the aid of his teacher and friend to solve the problem of the missing diamonds and clear his father’s name. P. H. Nortje's account of activities at Diggers’ Hope, Griqualand West, in DARK WATERS (Oxford University Press, 165 pp.) has an irresistible i freshness and verve. It should delight 8-11-year-olds.

The watchman of the Sangu (gods was supposed to destroy [all who came near Kipbang I Hill off the New Guinea coast. iDirk Rogers finds that local I superstition is not far wrong lin Frank Crisp s new adventure story, THE SANGUMAN (Jonathan Cape, 160 pp.).

THE VET'S SON, by Martha Robinson (Harrap and Co. 186 pp.), is essentially a story of adolescent growingpains, with a variety of veterinary information included to broaden the field of interest. The Wright family have had their American cousins, the twins Jane and Linda, staying with them for a time and now the visit is suddenly extended; their mother sends a cable to say the water tank in their house has burst and the twins must stay away another fortnight. No-one is really pleased about this, as Mrs Wright is in need of a holiday herself, and Tom Wright had expected to be left at home while his parents and brother were away, for a peaceful fortnight of study. As for the twins, though Jane is philosophical about the change of plan, Linda is very upset. In fact her annoyance and worry lead her into some thoroughly exasperating behaviour, and as Tom is suffering at the same time from a very proper attack of rebelliousness and independence, life is difficult for everyone. Especially so, however, for Mr Wright who is trying to track down the cause of mastitis in a neighbouring

farmer's herd. Fortunately Tom discerns the psychological cause of Linda’s behaviour, and the rescue of an injured horse promotes goodwill toward everyone. Suitable for 10 year olds and over.

For children up to eight years old, there is a pleasant story in I’M TIRED OF LIONS, by Zhenya Gay (Angus and Robertson, 31 pp.). Little Lion refused to eat his breakfast one morning because he did not want to be a lion, and suggested all kinds of other creatures he could be instead. But is mother pointed out that he could not be anything else because he had not got wings or a trunk, and could not do things like climbing trees or swimming under water. At last Little Lion went off for a walk, and when he looked in a puddle he saw a small animal he liked better than any other. The illustrations by the author have a beguiling blend of reality and cuddliness.

There are a treasure hunt, some interesting Tasmanian history and a very likeable family in SEARCH IN SUMMER, by James Poynter (Angus and Robertson, 95 pp.). The family, Mr and Mrs Foster and their daughters Beetle and Alison, go for a trip to Barren Cove, lured by an old story of a white man supposed to have lived with the aborigines generations before. What they found and how they found it make a lively, amusing story for girls of nine years and over.

Primrose Cumming’s account of the adventures of two children and their horse in FOAL OF THE FJORDS (Dent, 167 pp.) will please 7-10-year-old girls.

Bruce Carter breaks new ground in THE AIRFIELD MAN (Hamish Hamilton, 155 pp.) with an unusual idea, skilfully developed. Simon and Chuck visit the airfield where their fathers had been

stationed, become entangled in a situation of great danger and solve a mysterious wartime flying tragedy. In Nancy Faulkner’s KNIGHTS BESIEGED (Whiting and Wheaton, 238 pp.) Jeffrey Rohan escapes enslavement in the Turkish court and fights with the Knights Hospitallers in the defence of Rhodes. In NOREEN AND THE MYSTERY HERO (Dent, 150 pp.), Helen Dawson’s latest detective story for girls, the Gray's Detective Agency solves the mystery of the stolen money and the unknown rescuer. Set in a township outside Christchurch Noreen’s latest adventure fails to fulfil the promise of an excellent beginning. Eleven hundred years ago Malachy was the chief king of Ireland and foreigners led (by Turgesius the Viking j ravaged the countryside. (Theodora Dußois’ excellent I historical novel for girls, THE (HIGH KING’S DAUGHTER '(Gollancz, 128 pp.) combines (humour, adventure and local colour in the story of how Melcha, daughter of the chief king and Athelstan eventually outwitted Turgesius.

Carmen and Tristan help a displaced Polish boy to find the papers which prove his father’s identity. Rosemary Weir's THE BOY FROM NOWHERE (Abelard - Schuman, 157 pp ) involves an entertaining musical family in Covent Garden, a shipwreck and a lodger who was not what he seemed. Ten-year-olds and over will want to read this at a sitting. Illustrations by the New Zealand born artist, Dennis Turner, are particularly welcome.

It was a bad season for whales in the Antarctic and Thor’s uncle led his expedition to a secret sea known only to him where the blue whales and finbacks found sanctuary. Nature’s revenge for this desecration is told with a wealth of knowledge about whales and the whaling industry in Richard Armstong’s masterly story of THE SECRET SEA (Dent 151 pp). Ronald Welch’s BOWMAN OF CRECY (Oxford University Press, 178 pp.) follows the adventures of Hugh Fletcher and his band of outlaws as they harrass the cruel Sir Henry Mortimer, enlist in

the Company of Sir John Carey for the campaign against France and put their forest training to good effect in the shambles that was the Battle of Crecy, A fine historical novel of the fourteenth century, well up to the usual standard, that will be received enthusiastically by Ronald Welch's innumerable admirers. John Hampden's A PICTURE HISTORY OF INDIA (Oxford University Press, 62 pp.), is the latest addition to a series which children read with pleasure and profit. Clarke Hutton’s illustrations are magnificent. In the sweep of three thousand years of history the reader is introduced to Gautama, who became known as the Buddha, Asoka, one of the great rulers of history and Akbar, the Great Mogul. The colourful events from 1750 to 1900 receive more than their share of attention while the present century is dismissed briefly. Nevertheless, this is an excellent reference book for school or home libraries.

Philip Turner’s SEA PERIL (Oxford University Press, 205 pp.), is the third and best of his stories of David Beckford and his friends at Darnley Mills. The search for the site of a Roman signal tower, a cricket match and the cruise of the Sea Peril, a paddle driven houseboat, provide abundant humour and adventure. The best story of its kind for a long while. SEA PERIL is strongly recommended for 10-14-year-old boys.

Gerald runs away from a vicious stepfather and takes refuge with an old man living alone on the Lakeland fells. Gerald adopts a black orphan lamb, Smudge, defeats an old enemy and finds happiness and a real home in Joyce G a r d ’,s pleasing story SMUDGE OF THE FELLS (Gollancz, 159 pp.)

A junior edition of Alan Moorehead’s THE BLUE NILE (Hamish Hamilton, 155 pp.) is an excellent choice for the new Heron non-fiction series for older children. The account of the explorations of James Bruce in Ethiopia, Napoleon’s campaign in Egypt and Lord Napier’s expedition against the Emperor Theodore is quite enthralling and will send children searching for other titles by this author. Peter Jameson on his way home to the West Indies from school witnesses a bank raid on the island of Cristobal in which a man is murdered. The raiders belong to a gangster network that has been terrorising the island. Peter will be a key witness for the prosecution if he lives long enough. Ronald Syme’s THE MISSING WITNESS (Hamish Hamilton, 144 pp.) is the story of Peter on the run told by a master of thriller writing. Paddy Hooper’s MUSTER (UP! (Angus and Robertson, 123 pp.) has a flavour of Australia’s back-country. Geordie has his first experience of cattle-mustering in the rugged Mount Wellington country. A bad accident leaves Geordie looking after his father while the other members of the party go for help. Candy, a little girl and Peppermint, her puppy, make their first appearance in Gwvneth’s CANDY AND PEPPERMINT (Nelson) and CANDY AND THE ROCKING HORSE (Nelson). Pleasant stories for the four to six year olds, with illustrations that are bold and colourful.

The line-drawings above are reproduced from Ernest Seton Thompson's illustrations for his stories collected under the title "The Trail of the Sandhill Stag’’ and published in DentDutton's Children's illustrated Classics series.