CENSOR OF CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Otago Witness, Issue 3861, 13 March 1928, Page 31

CENSOR OF CHILDREN’S BOOKS

SUGGESTION BY THE HON. JOAN GRANT. UNDERSTANDING THE INFANT MIND. LONDON, January 19. The Morning Post publishes a letter from the Hon. Joan Grant of Grant (daughter of Lord and Lady Strathspey) putting forward quite a new idea. This young lady spends a considerable time with children, and she may therefore write to some purpose: The arguments in favour of books as presents were pressed home with more than usual vigour this year, and one imagines that the sale of books has had a welcome increase. It is rather a pity that more help was not given in connection with choice of suitable books—visits to various bookshops, and contact with many purchasers of Looks as gifts, have convinced me that—particularly relating to children’s books—there is a lack of skill in selection. May one say also that there is a lack of knowledge of the child mind . . . both on the part of purchasers and authors of so-called “ books for the bairns?” The supply of a book to a child of even the tenderest years is a vital matter. Many children’s books lack beauty of thought, and are simply full of delicately “ written down ” adult thought. Many are simply "oolish, and their authors have failed to see the seductive power of the right type of ve”se and prese for the very young. There are welcome exceptions, which are gratifying instances of an understanding of the child mind that is wonderful in its depth and sure in its touch. The gift of a book to a very young child is an aet that may be big with possibilities. Let it not be undertaken ■ lightly. One hesitates to suggest a censorship of books which are psychologically quite unsuitable for the little ones. But is. such an idea so impracticable after all?