Are you seeking for young children picture-books to please the eye?
Then your need GEORGE ROUTLEDGE and his Sons will readily supply.
Here's "Little Wide-Awake," designed to suit the earliest age,
Bound brightly, with a picture too on nearly every page;
And then there's "Sunny Childhood," with its colouring so gay,
Where Mrs. SALE BARKER has such pleasant things to say;
And in "Our Friends" and in "Our Home" she takes them by the hand,
And talks to little readers in the words they understand.
"Our Darlings," too, by MARS, show how our little darlings fare
Who by their MARS (and Pa's as well) are taken everywhere.
If "Fairy Tales" you're seeking, LABOULAYE'S collected lore,
With new ones, and unheard before, will furnish up your store.
And if young heroes of all climes should come within your scope,
You'll turn to "Youngsters' Yarns," and will have faith in ASCOTT HOPE.
Then "Herbert Massey's" doings in "Eastern Africa" you'll find,
Told by Commander CAMERON, quite of a thrilling kind.
"The Children of the New Forest," that MARRYAT wrote of yore,
PAUL HARDY and JOHN GILBERT join to illustrate once more.
"Round Nature's Dial," by H. M. BURNSIDE, tells full and clear
The shifting story of the times and seasons of the year.
The "Annual" for "Every Boy" affords all boys a treat,
Which, thanks to EDMUND ROUTLEDGE, may be held as quite complete.
Here "Caldecott's last 'Graphic' Pictures" come in handy guise,
While by her "Book" consulting, the "Young Lady" may grow wise.
How good we'd be if all, before they do, to think would tarry
On what Miss EDGEWORTH taught to "Lucy," "Rosamond," and "Harry."
"Natural History," Illustrated "for Young People," must do good,
As a text-book for young children, ably done by F. G. WOOD.
The "Funny Foxes and their Feats" and doings "at the Fair,"
With some of ERNST GRISET'S happiest efforts may compare.
"The 'Shall Nots' of the Bible" and "Loving Links" combine,
In page illuminated, human verse and text divine.
"Play and Earnest" tells of children who their playing much enjoy,
In a story quaint and charming of a plucky little boy.
Then "Sunbeam Stories," "Storm" and "Sunshine," told in prose and
rhyme,
And "Stories" for a "Holiday," as also "Pets' Pastime."
These, with "Sindbad's" famed Adventures, new to many we suppose,
With KATE GREENAWAY'S bright Almanack our list must fitly close.