sents one of the most delightful collections of verse that we have seen recently. Mr. Bryant states in his preface that the verses included in this compilation have been chosen more especially for readers who are taking leave of school or college. To the thoughtful observer, however, it would appear that the claims made for the compilation are altogether too modest. The eight parts into which the coliection is divided are made up with rare good taste, and the selections have evidently been chosen with the care and discernment which can only come from a thoro acquaintance with the whole field of ancient and modern poetry. The including of a number of extracts from the school and college publications of recent years makes an interesting feature, and one which naturally is of interest to the readers for whom the book is intended. It is our opinion, however, that the book will find a more generous reception in many directions than the author and publishers have anticipated. Price, $1.00. (Thomas Y. Crowell Company, New York.)

The fourth volume of the new Crowell Edition of Henry D. Thoreau is "A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers." It is certainly an important addition to the series and one which adds to the general attractiveness of the set in no small way. The pictures for this edition were made by Mr. Johnson at the end of August in order that they might correspond with the time of year that Thoreau made his trip. In his foreword Mr. Johnson also calls attention to the fact that while the aspect of the rivers has changed in some ways since 1839, yet the country as viewed from the stream, whether you are on the Concord or the Merrimack, presents much the same appearance as it did to Thoreau. The photographs are very interesting and the edition is so well gotten up in all its details that no lover of Thoreau will hesitate long before adding it to his library. Price, $2.00 net. (Thomas Y. Crowell

From "A Life of Grant for Boys and Girls." (Thomas Y. Crowell Co., New York)

In "Happy Children. A Book of Bed-time Stories," by Ella Farman Pratt, the stock of holiday books is enriched by an unusually attractive collection of stories. The illustrations from drawings by Laetitia Herr are charming and artistic. No Christmas of modern times is without its Christmas gift-books and general story books intended particularly for gift purposes. Some of these books are ephemeral and belong only to the season which produces them, while others have a more permanent value and survive from year to year. We believe that Miss Pratt's book will belong to the latter class. Price, $1.00. (Thomas Y. Crowell Co., New York City.)

"A Life of Grant, for Boys and Girls," by Warren Lee Goss. Mr. Goss' war stories have made a well recognized place for themselves, and it is fortunate for the American boy that a writer of his ability has produced war stories of real character and of historical accuracy to take the place of the mass of careless and sometimes foolish stories which were written in such large numbers years ago. While of course Mr. Goss writes for the boys and girls, and in fact dedicates this volume to them, we feel sure that many older readers will take pleasure in the book, and that it will fill a permanent place in the bibliography of the period which it covers. Price, $1.50. (Thomas Y. Crowell Co., New York City.)

"Boy Scouts in the Maine Woods," by James Otis, is an unusually interesting story for boys, and one which will probably continue in popularity as the Boy Scout movement grows. Mr. Otis has had plenty of experience as a writer for boys, and this story seems to be fully up to the excellent standards which he has set in his previous books. Charles Copeland contributes a number of appropriate illustrations, which add much to the attractiveness of the edition. Price, $1.25.

"The Crooked Trail," by Lewis B. Miller, is a thrilling narrative of the vigorous, stirring life in that period of the history of Texas which immediately followed that of the pioneers. The Rangers, aided by hunger after the buffalo had been destroyed, had driven the Indians to reservations. The few hardy settlers struggled with outlaws and cattle thieves. It was a period of excitement and adventure, which Mr. Miller portrays with no lack of vividness. The book, which is illustrated by J. W. F. Kennedy, will appeal deeply to growing boys. Price, $1.50. (Dana Estes & Co., Boston.)

No happier plan for interesting and amusing children has been worked out this season than Margaret Johnson's "Pinky Winky Stories." It is called a "rebus book for little folks." Short stories are told by means of words and rebus illustrations. The mother can read the words and the child the pictures, or if the child is able to read the large type he can read it all. The small pictures are numerous. The larger pictures, one for each story, can be copied for paper-cutting. All the pictures are well drawn, and they form a delightful commentary on the text. The "Pinky Winky Stories" are fitted to help much in aiding a child to learn how to read. Price, 75 cents. (Dana Estes & Co., Boston.)

"Captain Cartwright and His Labrador Journal" details the experience, during nearly sixteen years, of this pioneer settler and trader on the interesting Labrador coast. The account reveals Captain Cartwright's tact and justice in dealing with the natives; his painstaking studies of fur-bearing animals, water-birds, and botanical species of the then unknown country; and the author's experience with labor difficulties, and his adventures with American privateers during the Revolution. The journals have been ably edited by Dr. C. W. Townsend, whose own books on Labrador reveal his

The Six Little Pennypackers

Voyage to the Arctic

knowledge of the country. Dr. W. T. Grenfell has written an introduction. The book is of especial interest to all students of American history. With illustrations and map. Large duodecimo, cloth. Price, $2.00. (Dana Estes & Co., Boston.)

A new and modernized edition of Florence Howe Hall's "Social Customs," printed from new plates, is one of the important books of the present season. Mrs. Hall, as the daughter of Julia Ward Howe, is to the manner born if such a thing is possible in this country. Brought up in a fine social environment, her statements as to what is the correct thing in the social world stand as authoritative, and her book on "Social Customs" has been standard since its first publication. The new edition, brought up to date, is deserving of wide popularity. The book treats of the origin and evolution of manners; it contains chapters on the duties of hosts and hostesses, on correct behavior both in pri

vate and in public, on weddings, teas, etc. In fact, it would be hard to find any social question that this comprehensive book fails to (Dana Estes & Co.)

answer.

"Great Bear Island," by Arthur E. McFarlane, author of "Redney McGaw," etc., illustrated by Thomas Fogarty; 12mo, cloth.As a holiday book for boys,

"Great Bear Island" will undoubtedly be popular. This story appeared serially in the Youth's Companion, and is already well known to many young readers. The story deals with the adventures of a quartet of boys who spend a summer in the northern woods. The book is full of action and will sustain the interest of the youthful reader from beginning to end. (Little, Brown & Co.)

The new edition of Charles Kingsley's "Westward Ho!" with seventeen illustrations by Harold Copping, belongs to the Luxembourg Library Series. The illustrations are excellent and are not too numerous, as is sometimes the case in the more elaborate editions of masterpieces. "Westward Ho!" is published in so many different forms that each new edition naturally comes into comparison, not only with the more recent editions, but with practically all those which have been previously brought out. The Luxembourg Edition does not suffer by this comparison. Price, $1.50. (Thomas Y. Crowell Co., New York City.)

"The Adventures of Pony Dexter," by Harriet A. Cheever. This charming story of a pony, as told by himself, should not only interest children, but should also instill the idea of greater thoughtfulness for dumb animals. Since the days of "Black Beauty" there has been a distinct place in juvenile literature for stories of this kind, and Mrs. Cheever is well known for her ability to write these stories in an attractive way and to give them the touch of reality, which means so much to the young reader. The volume at hand is illustrated by Diantha H. Marlowe, and is published in attractive form. The story is not long and can therefore be read by children or read to them. Price, 50 cents. (Dana Estes & Co., Boston.)

"Billy: His Summer Awakening," is the first volume of the "Billy Series," by Charles Keen Taylor. Billy is the son of a man of wealth, and is a spoiled child. Naturally, he is shunned by the best boys of his acquaintance, and is nagged and bullied by the others. His father determines to have the boy rough it on sea and land during his summer vacation. The associations with which the lad comes in contact teach him respect for authority, and inculcate a sense of honor, and a courage which he had lacked hitherto. The boys in the story are wholesome and natural, and the book

A very interesting little story, giving the experiences of two American children who are spending a year in Sweden. The book contains much information as to the customs which make the Swedish Yuletide festivities so interesting, and it will certainly appeal to both children and adults. Bertha D. Hoxie, the illustrator, has contributed much to the attractivenes of the volume, which is handsomely bound and which should make an ideal Christmas gift. Price, 50 cents. (Dana Estes & Co., Boston.)

"Two Noble Lives" is the story of the life of Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe and Julia Ward Howe, his wife, by their daughter, Laura E. Richards. No one is better fitted to tell of the life work of the Howes-two wonderful people they were, too,-than Mrs. Richards. The story is delightfully told, and the book, covering only seventy-five pages, will be greatly enjoyed as a Christmas gift, especially by persons old enough to remember the days of the Civil War. Many another be

sides the great-grandchildren of Julia Ward Howe, to whom the book is dedicated, will catch something of the inspiration of the lives thus commemorated. Dan a Estes & Co., Boston.) "Betty Wales Decides," by Margaret Warde. Like the previous books of this series, the present volume is a pleasing blending of fun and work, entertaining to all familiar with classroom and campus life. (The Penn Publishing Company, Philadelphia.)

Garver's "Essentials of Spanish Grammar" gives exactly what its name implies, the grammatical features essential for the reading of ordinary Spanish, combined with exercises supplying practice in translation and pronunciation. Special vocabularies accompany the first ten lessons, after which the student is referred to the complete vocabulary following the text. Dr. Samuel Gardner, the author, was formerly Professor of Modern Languages, United States Naval Academy. Cloth, 12mo, 232 pages. Price, $1.00. (American Book Co.)

"Beginnings in Agriculture," by Albert Russell Mann. New textbooks on Agriculture appear so frequently and in such generous quantities that we are sometimes tempted to wonder whether the publishing houses are measuring accurately the demand for agricultural books, or whether they are overestimating this demand, -particularly for text-Looks of a certain general type. Mr. Mann has made a text-book which is intended for use in the seventh and eighth grades of elementary schools. He has aimed to cover the work in the "Nature Study" spirit, and to bring the pupil into as close touch as possible with actual farms, soils, crops, etc. He has worked out his plan with scrupulous care and has preserved an excellent balance thruout. As most of the text-books on agriculture are published for high school use, this book deserves special attention on account of its avowed purpose to bring the work in agriculture into the grades. Both author and publishers are to be congratulated upon the accomplishment of a thoroly creditable piece of work, and upon the publication of a really excellent and accurate text-book. We believe that this book will have a marked influence on the work in agriculture done in the schools of New York State, and thruout the middle Atlantic States. It seems hardly possible to produce a textbook on agriculture which will be satisfactory for these states, and at the same time practical for the southern and western states. Publishers who are ambitious to secure large portions of the market for agricultural books must reckon with the fact, that no such uniformity, as is possible in most of the subjects which make up the grade courses, can be preserved when a subject like agriculture is taken up. We believe that Mann's "Agriculture" would have been somewhat better suited to grade work if the publishers had brought out the book in different form, and had printed it upon paper which would have made it less burdensome for the seventh or eighth grade pupil to carry. However, this criticism should not be made in connection with this book only, since it applies equally well to a large proportion of the books published for the grades at the present time; and we make note of the matter here only because agriculture is a comparatively new study in the course of the average eastern school. Mr. Mann has made a valuable contribution to the available textbook equipment in the subject of agriculture, and his book should be of far-reaching force in forming the new courses, and in making really practical and satisfactory the work in agriculture in many schools where it has not been feasible to introduce such courses because of the lack of a suitable book. The question of grading must always be raised in connection with any book which is intended for two grades. The school work in agriculture is as yet too new to have developed

many recognized standards of grading. It is certainly fair to ask whether some of the subjects, which will presumably be handled in the eighth grade, might not be taken up to greater advantage in the seventh and whether the seventh grade work does not contain some topics which belong more properly to the eighth grade. However, as the courses in agriculture become more general, all these details will be worked out, and more definite standards will be established. In undertaking work which is to quite an extent pioneer effort along this line, the author has used excellent judgment and has rendered useful service in organizing a difficult subject in such a way as to make seventh and eighth grade courses really feasible in the average school. Price, 75 cents net. (The Macmillan Co., New York.)

A course in grammar, which has been prepared to meet the needs of beginners, is published under the title of "Elements of English Grammar." The author, A. E. Sharp, has evidently expended unusual care in the preparation of this book, and the lessons are graded very systematically, and have obviously been tested thoroly in the schoolroom. The book attempts no new methods, and the author does not venture outside the customary and well-established lines of work in English grammar as it has been carried on in many schools for years, the principal aim of the book being evidently to grade the work more carefully, to present a better collection of illustrations, and to keep the work fresh and interesting rather than to experiment with any of the more radical plans and innovations which are now attracting the thoughtful attention of many teachers of English. The “Elements of English Grammar" presents an excellent and practical course. student who masters this course under the direction of a competent teacher, who can broaden the scope of the work wherever this may seem advisable, will be well prepared to undertake more advanced work. Price, $1.00. (William R. Jenkins Company, New York.)

The

"German Epics Retold," edited by M. Bine Holly, represents selections prepared with special reference to the needs of first- and second-year students. The "Epics" are retold in modern German prose of easy grade, and the spirit of the original poems has been preserved. Historical introductions are given, and full footnotes aid the student in mastering special difficulties as they are encountered. The exercises for conversational work, based on each "Epic," constitute an important feature of the book. These exercises will certainly prove of the greatest assistance in many classes, and will be popular with many teachers and students of German. An excellent vocabulary accompanies the text. This book, "German Epics Retold," is an excellent example of the newer style of German text arranged for school use. Price, 65 cents. (American Book Company.)

Crackle and blaze,
Crackle and blaze,

There's snow on the house-tops,
There's ice on the ways;

But the keener the season
The stronger's the reason

Our ceiling should flicker and glow and blaze.

School Readers Five New Series

Baldwin and Bender's-Five Readers (American Book Company).

The Riverside Readers-Primer and Three Readers (Houghton, Mifflin Company).

Sea-Brownie Readers-Parts I and II (D. C. Heath Company).

The Horace Mann Readers-Primer and Four Readers (Longmans, Green & Co.).

American School Readers-Second and Third (The Macmillan Company).

All these readers are intended as basal series. The standing of the publishers; their experience in sensing the changing needs of the schools; the care they exercise in the choice of authors; the heavy financial burden they assumed in bringing out these books in most attractive form, should assure to the series the careful examination of teachers and school officers who are looking about for the best that has yet been produced in this particular field. All these series represent more or less strikingly the dominant tendencies in the making of modern school readers. An effort is made to lead the young by carefully graded steps to an appreciation of the great masterworks of literature. The shaping of right conceptions of life and the attending moral obligations in our present civilization, is an opportunity taken advantage of with greater or less skill. The interests of present-day children are appealed to in various ways. Humor receives in some of the series, most notably in the excellent "Baldwin-Bender" books, something like its rightful consideration. Good cheer and a bright outlook upon the world are potent factors in approaching the task of winning the young for the best that life can give. Here the illustrations, too, perform an important service. Besides the charming pictures, which reach perhaps as high a mark as has ever been set in school readers, especially in "The Riverside Readers," help to form the children's esthetic ideas, while affording them keen, pleasurable enjoyment. The publishers of the various series enumerated above have earned the gratitude of all the friends of the schools. Who cannot be suited by a choice among them, must be firmly encased, indeed, in fixed notions of the past. To be sure, the choice itself may not be very easy. But the great advance the readers represent over anything in the past must be evident to

everyone.

The "Baldwin-Bender" books, more particularly on their literary side, appeal strongly and directly to the interest of the young. Grown-ups, too, will enjoy them if they have kept their heart young. If a hardened reviewer, with five sets of readers to go thru, finds himself inveigled by the charm of the selections to read right on from the title page of the first book to the close of the fifth, there must be persuasive power of an unusual kind in the matter presented. The quiet humor, the modern touch, the skillful unobtrusiveness of great moral lessons introduced at the right moment, the reverent appreciativeness with which literary gems are handled, the appropriateness of the illustrations, the scope afforded to the juvenile play spiritthese are some of the things that stand out promi

"The Riverside Readers" represent, perhaps, the most ambitious attempt made in the production of school readers. Supt. James H. Van Sickle, formerly of Baltimore and now of Springfield, Mass., and Wilhelmina Seigmiller, director of art education in the schools of Indianapolis, are the authors, assisted by Frances Jenkins, supervisor of the elementary schools of Decatur, Ill. The artistic illustrations by Ruth Mary Hallock, Maginel Wright Enright and Clara E. Atwood supply a picture gallery that ought to prove an ever fresh source of delight to the young. The text is equally attractive and well graded and takes the children right into the ever green pastures of the world's literature. Dramatizations and play activities are given a prominent place. The books no doubt will win a host of enthusiastic friends in the schools.

"The Sea-Brownie Readers" follow a distinct plan, and are more particularly adapted to the requirements of the New York City course of study. The authors are John W. Davis, one of the best-known of the district superintendents of New York City, and Fanny Julien, a skillful first-year teacher in the same school system. There are "true stories and Queep stories." Literature, history, nature study are taught by the way.

The plan of the books is interesting. All the sentences are short. So are the paragraphs. In the first two books the width of the printed lines is less than is usual. Here, as in other features, the requirements of the New York City schools seem to have been closely followed. The children's love of the folks of fairyland receives the fullest consideration. "Brownie Ben" takes a ride in the airship, too, a sure-enough modern doubledecker aeroplane. The illustrations are delightful.

"The Horace Mann Readers" follow more the oldfashioned lines. "A definitely organized system of phonic exercises" is provided, extending thruout the first four books. There is an abundance of animal stories, fables and wonder stories. History and adventure are intermingled with quaint and witty sayings and rules of ethics. Pedagogic authorities are quoted in the various prefaces, to account for the plan of each book. Most of the illustrations are very good. There are many bright-colored pictures. Two of the hunting pictures ("The Fox and the Ducks," in the Second Reader, and "The Dog and the Ducks" in the Third Reader,) had better be omitted from later editions, for the sake of sensitive little children. There are many fine selections from master-writers.

Kate F. Oswell and Dr. C. B. Gilbert are the authors of "The American School Readers." Folk-lore and fairy stories, history stories and anecdotes are introduced in their proper places. The distinctive feature of the books is the stress they lay on literature. They are essentially literary readers. Everything is carefully graded-by classification rather than by adaptation. This is a commendable feature, and reveals the proper reverence which teachers should have for the great master-works of the world. "The authors believe that the whole time given to reading books in school should be spent upon worthy literature, in cultivating taste for good reading. They follow this creed consistently thruout the series." The text is appropriately