BOOKS FOR CHILDREN

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 146, 22 June 1934, Page 9

BOOKS FOR CHILDREN

THE GROWTH OF THE MIND

A CENSUS DISCLOSURE

(From ''The Post's" Representative.) , : LONDONj April 26.

A. census '.of children's reading ;has been conducted by teachers and librarians of East Ham, a populous' London suburb.- .Children were asked to name not only fticir '■ favourite books, but their favourite kind of -books, and 11,033 replies were received, .-•

Adventure tales are by far the most popular among boys of all ages. School tales come second among boys from 10 to 14 years; and,first among girls from 10' to 13, who prefer adventures' after that age. V / , , . ' .'

"The children of today, M. says the report, "finish with fairy tales at a much' earlier age than those of a former generation.'.''

Eight-year-old children '• like animal tales. "• "' ; "■'■ ■: "■ ■ ■•'"■' ■" ■•'■-'■

The ten mostpppular books, in'order of preference, 'among boys and girls from 8 to 15V■"year's, are:—Tales of Robin Hood; "William" books; "Robinson Crusoe"; "Treasure Island"; "Alice in Wonderland"; "Peter Pan"; ''Grimm's ■ Fairy Tales"; '' Little. Women "; ■? < Goial Island " ; "Oliver' Twist.'?' " .

"Does it mean,''' asked the report, "that writers of today, do not understand children? Books ; , which : are hailed by adults as wonderful additions to juvenile literature are not acclaimed with the same enthusiasm by the child: Ten' themselves, for these tales aro often beyond the child's powers of apprciation." . • :,

Only two living authors have a pldce. Sir ■James Barrie, with "Peter; Pah"; and Miss Richmal Crompton, with her, " William *? books. ' • ,

'It seems that "Through the Looking Glass" is not nearly bo popular as "''Alice, in Wonderland"; that boys are more "serious readers than girls; they often like to follow up a cortain subject of study, but rarely do girls follow such' a course; and that Dickens is preferred in "retold" editions.