SOME SEASONABLE GIFT BOOKS.

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 76, 22 December 1917, Page 12

SOME SEASONABLE GIFT BOOKS.

"Chums." Messrs. Cassell and Co. forward, through Messrs. S. and W. Mackay, a copy of the 1917 volume of that oldestablished favourite "Chums." _ Here again is all the old wealth of literary and pictorial entertainment which is always associated with this popular publication by youthful readers, with a copy of "Chums" in the house, a vet day has no terrors for a boy, whose only trouble is to secure his favourite hook from sisterly usurpation, for it iB tho experience of most parents that, by an 'early display of feminine caprice, the average girl is just as fond of "Chums" as her brothers. This year's "Chums" displays no falling off in the quality of either its stories and articles or its illustrations. The serial story by James Oliver Curwood, author of "Kazau, the Wolf Dog," will, I predict, be a Special favourite, although Mr. WalUey's "Under the Black Flag," Captain Frank Shaw's "Hounds of the Sea," unci the same author's naval story, "When Beatty Kept the Sea," will run it for popularity. The war is reflected in a very humorous yarn, "The Antics of Anzac Jones," and in "Ted of the Tanks." These are only a few amongst many of the excellent serial stories. In addition there are scores of complete short stories, articles on tlie war, on natural history, and various other subjects. The coloured plates include Bomo striking war pictures, facsimiles of regimental standards and badges, etc. A veritable mine of good tilings for youthful readers is this year a '"Chums." (N.Z. price, 95.)

Cassell'B "Gills' Annual." An admirable gift book for girls is "The Australasian Girls' Annual, compiled by the editor of "Little Folks" (Cassell and Co., per S. and W. Mackay). This is a handsome quarto-sized volume, containing stories and articles by Marjorie Bowen, Angela Brazil, Dorothea Moore, Bessie Marchant, Ethel Talbot. Violet M. Methley, aiid others, and liberally illustrated in colour and black by many well-known British artists, the coloured plates being specially well done. In addition to a plentiful supply of wholesome and interesting fiction there are a numoer of exoellent articles on war subjects, hobbies, eto, A most attractively-pro-duced volume; just the thing for a Christmas gift. Stories From History. Under the title of "My Book of the Best stories From History" (Cassell and Co., per S. and W. Maokay), Mr. P. Hanshew has selected and retold a long series of stories taken from the history, not only of Great Britain, but many other countries. Mr. Hanshew has been singularly successful in selecting historical events and episodes which possess a strong dramatic interest, and lie retells nis stories in i. brisk, vigorous style, which should eminently appeal to the young people for whose delectation, and, incidentally, instruction, they are primarily intended. A special feature of what, is in every way an admirable gift book is the series of full-page plates in colour, from drawings by Mr. A. 0. Michael. Mr. Michael's broad and vigorus style is specially suitable to the depicting of historical scenes, and "The Best Stories From History" should be in keen demand as n seasonable present for youthful readers.

"Tho Wolt Hunters." In ''The Wolf Hunters" (Cassell and Co., pet S. and W. Mackay), Mr. James Oliver Curwood, whose stories of adventures in the Far North-west of Canada are so well known, provides a very exciting yarn which will be read not only by boys, but by adults, with breathless interest. Two youths, one of tlieni with Indian, as well as white blood in his veins, set off on a hunting and trapping expedition with «u Indian guide, and meet with far more adventures than they had expected, for wolf and moose hunting and the trap- !>!••? or vi'rit.''? f'-r-v- 1, • . :ii ;!!■•■ interrupted by the attacks of a band of Woonga Indians. 4 ! Needless to say, however, that Rod Drew, and his faithful chum Wabi emerge safely from the wilds, where, by the way, thev discover a rich gold mine'. No one can write a better backwoods yarn than ran the author of ''Kazan, the Wolf Dog," and in his new book Mr. Curwood is as interesting as ever. "Six Little New Zealanders," Miss Peacocke, of Auckland, has proved that New Zealanders can give ; us just as clever studies of children as Miss Ethel Turner and her sister and Mrs. Grant Bruce, and now, in her "Six Little New Zealanders" (Cassell and Co., per S. and W. Mackay), a Christchurch young lady, Miss Ethel Glen, makoß a very promising debut as an exponent of this particular genre of fiction. The scene is laid on a Canterbury sheep station, and the dramatis personae of Miss Glen's clever and very humorous little comedy includo a Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm and six young Malcolms, varying in age from nine to nineteen, also three, uncles, two real and one "adopted", together with a host of minor characters. Miss Glen has a very easy, colloquial style., and her characters, especially the juveniles, make extremely pleasant if only in imagination. Many phases of New Zealand country life are _ depicted in this j very jolly story, which tfill be read ! with interest linrl pleasure alike by youthful aiid adult seekers after entertainment. Cassell's Children's Annual, Quite young children and those in their early teens will lind delight exceeding in Cassell's "Children';. Annual' for 1917" (Cassell and Co., per Whitcombe and Tombs). Both stories and pictures are specially intended for youthful patrons, and tho diversity of the fare provided ensures evory taste! being pleased. The authors include! such well-practised writers for children j aB Jlay Bvron, Dorothea Moore, Ethel Talbot, Grace Jones, and Mrs. Latham, I whilst the artists represented in the I rich store of beautifully coloured plates and ■ black-and-white drawings are equally experienced in catering 4 or juvenile tastes, aB may be seon iiy the fact that they include sucb names ac i Harry Rountree, Arthur Rackham, | Charles E. Brock, Florence Anderson, Rosa Petherick, and Lucie Attwoll. This handsome quarto should be in great demand as a gift book for the youngsters. "Jack of St. Virgil's." In her new story, "Jack of St. Virgil's" (Ward, Lock and Co., per Whitcombe und Tombs), Miss Lilian Pyke, who last year gave us that oapi- ! tal story, "Max the Sport," introduces us to a very jolly young iad, Jack Brown, who, the adopted eon of c, worthy pair of settlers m a bush townahin, winß a scholarship at tho bijj ilolbounw twlk&e St. ViryiJ'a,

The story includes scenes of city and up-country life in Victoria and Queens-1 land, and the hero passes through some exciting and occasionally very unpleasant experiences. He is a lad of a sturdy spirit, strong-willed in his decision to adopt always the honourable course, and although sorely tested, comes out of the ordeal with flying colours. Miss Pyko weaves a s'nlhillydevised plot, especially in her .disentanglement of the mystery surrounding the hero's parentage, and the story is 0113 which should be in high favour with boy readers. Hold Over. Reviews of Mr. Locke's new story, "The Red Planet," Mr. H. G. Wells's "The Soul of a Bishop," and other important new novels axe held over until next week.