“The collection of books which we call ‘Bibliothèque Rose’ (the paper
bound edition has a pink cover; perhaps that is the reason why we call
it Bibliothèque Rose) includes the most charming stories a child can
wish for, especially those of Mme. de Ségur’s and Zénaïde Fleuriot’s.
In this collection as well as in the Bibliothèque des Petits Enfants,
and in the large illustrated albums, much will be found of interest to
children of from six to ten years.
“For older boys and girls (10–15), I would recommend Bibliothèque des
Mères de Famille. At the present time the only thing I remember about
this collection is that there were in it a number of books translated
from the German by Emmeline Raymond, and which used to give me much
pleasure.
“As far as I can judge, girls and boys of this age enjoy Jules Verne,*
Charles Wagner, H. Gréville, H. Malot, E. About, Erckmann-Chatrian,*
Anatole France, Daudet, and La Fontaine, the two I have starred being
special favourites with boys. Of course, I would not recommend for
children everything by these authors. I have suggested many books in
the Bibliothèque Rose; there are other writers in that collection,
such, for example, as Mme. Cazin, Mlle. J. Gouraud, Maistre,
Mayne-Reid, Mme. Pape-Carpantier, Mme. de Stolz, and Mme. de Witt,--all
of whom have done some excellent juvenile work. But a parent should not
be satisfied with a recommendation; personal judgment is the surest
test.
“Regarding poetry, there are many short pieces by Mme. Tastu, well
adapted for very young children. In the anthologies which are published
you are most likely to find such pieces as Victor Hugo’s ‘L’enfant,’
‘Pour les pauvres,’ ‘Après la bataille’; Lamartine’s ‘L’automne,’
‘Milly’; extracts from Corneille and Racine; and Chateaubriand’s
well-known ‘Combien j’ai douce souvenance.’ Then there are a number
of Coppée’s poems; Bérenger’s ‘Les souvenirs du peuple,’ and ‘A mon
habit’; André Chénier’s ‘La jeune Captive’; Hégésippe Moreau’s ‘La
Voulzie’; Brizeux’s ‘La pauvre fille’; Theuriet’s ‘La Chanson du
Vannier’; and poems of Mme. Desborde-Valmore. This will give some idea
of how rich the field of poetry is, which, with La Fontaine alone,
would supply children with untold enjoyment.
“The educational value in most of the books which I have suggested
consists chiefly in the attractive manner in which they are written;
there is no ‘leçon de morale’ in disguise in the style, yet such books
are more than well-written stories. Children read Mme. de Ségur’s books
with much more pleasure than they do the old-fashioned Berquin’s,
which are ‘ennuyeux.’ Such stories as Mme. de Ségur writes make a deep
impression, since they teach agreeably to love the qualities which we
grown-ups wish to see in children, and to dislike those faults which we
would blame in them, even if, sometimes, the naughty child in the story
_is_ made attractive.
“You will see, we have no special books of animal stories, such as you
publish in England and in America--unless you consider, of course,
La Fontaine’s fables, which do not give any practical knowledge of
animal life. Books which appeal to the heart, or to the imagination,
are very popular with French children, who are naturally sensitive and
imaginative; but, after all, is it not so with every child, French or
English or American?
“It has been my experience that American children (the very young
ones), if they were able to read the French books French children
of the same age read, enjoyed them quite as much. The difference in
national temperament develops later on. The American boy or girl grows
up more rapidly than the French boy or girl; acquires the practical
sense sooner; has a more real view of life. Perhaps this is due
largely to the fact that the French child has little independence, and
hence is unpractical. But there is a compensation somewhere, for the
French child’s mind is subtler, and his imagination more vivid. I do
not think we have any library system at present where children’s work
is a specialty; in fact, our public libraries are mostly frequented by
grown-up people. I have never seen children, as far as I can recollect,
in any of our libraries.”--MLLE. EMILIE MICHEL, in a letter to the
author.
Both Brentano and Dryrsen & Pfeiffer (successors to Christern), as
well as W. R. Jenkins Co., New York, issue complete catalogues, French
and German, in which illustrated books, magazines, and series of
special volumes are suggested. They differ so markedly in prices, that
no uniformity can be reached. But except in the case of illustrated
albums, it may be claimed, generally, that the prices are reasonable.
ABOUT, EDMOND--Le Roi des Montagnes.
L’Homme à l’oreille Cassée.
CARRAUD, MME.--La petite Jeanne. Bibliothèque Rose.
DAUDET, ALPHONSE--Tartarin de Tarascon.
Tartarin sur les Alpes.