Junior Bookshelf

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 48, 19 November 1932, Page 19

Junior Bookshelf

Christmas is, for many of us, when delightful new books arrive to pass the idle hours away. The new books for the holiday season are now making their appearance, and Juniors will be pleased to learn that the publishers have been .making special efforts to please them this year. Among the new annuals which have reached New Zealand is “No. 10 Joy Street,” published by Messrs. Blackwell, of London. In this charmingly illustrated volume Michael Lynn has gathered together' a delightful collection of stories, poems and pictures that are sure to appeal to children of all The authors include such wellknown people as Compton Mackenzie, Laurence Housinan, Algernon Blackwood and Hugh Chesterinan. Those who love a beautiful book will appreciate this one. Who doesn’t love to read about the antics of animals? I am sure we all do That is why “Yap,” by Oliver Bowen (Elkin, Mathews and Marrot), is sure to win instant approval. In this fascinating book the author tells US in his humorous style about the adventures of a young fox and many other animal chractcrs. The domestic and social life of animals makes very interesting reading.

Now here is quite a different type of animal book that is also sure to please. “New Tales for Old,” by Geraldine Elliott (Elkin, Mathews and Marrot), tells us many fascinating legends about the animals of Africa. These legends, which are based ou traditional native talcs, give us some amazing reasons as to why-the zebra has spots, how the elephant got his trunk and so on. The delightfully funny illustrations by It. W. Coulter add to the charm of the book. Judging by the number of interesting letters received from Junior readers, I should say that most of you are great lovers of nature. As lam sure that you love the birds and butterflies, and all the other wonders of the fields and forests, I want to tell you about a book that has been written about just such things by Flora Klickman. This great lover of nature tells her readers about a cheeky little squirrel, a mole, and all the quaint little bird-folk that inhabit England. All the animals, birds and insects talk and work, so that we can understand them. “Mystery in the Windflower Wood” (Pytnams) is the name of the book, and it gives us an Intimate view of a fascinating world. A book to. read and treasure.