BOOK NOTICES "A Guide for the Study of Animals" (D. C. Heath & Co., Boston, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Austin, San Francisco and London), by a committee from the Biology Round Table of the Chicago High Schools. 206 pp., 50 cents. The authors have developed a course from the standpoint of the student rather than that of the subject. They have included a brief study of a somewhat large number of animals so as to bring out general biological laws. Experience has proved that this is a more profitable course for ordinary high school classes than the exhaustive study of a few types. The book emphasizes the importance of the economic side of biology, especially as it bears upon sanitation, household, science and agriculture. The work will prove of exceptional value to both teachers and students. "Cave Mound, and Lake Dwellers and Other Primitive People" (D. C. Heath & Co.), by Florence Holbrook. 138 pp., 40 cents. The subject matter of this book is fresh, attractive and educative. Because of the lack of suitable material, most schools have limited their study of primitive life to the Indian and Eskimo, but from neither of these has civilization inherited anything of value. Cave and lake dwellers were our early ancestors, and from them we have in herited much. The study of their modes of life shows us the beginnings of civilization. It also increases our respect for the courage, endurance, patience, application and hope of an early people, struggling against adverse conditions. "Child's First Book for Home and School" (D. C. Heath & Co.), by Florence Bass. 128 pp. Illustrations in colors and in black and white. Price, 30 cents. This attractive little book contains a vocabulary of 184 words, by far a greater part of which are object and action words. The book will appeal particularly to teachers who find children of the slow, but sure type of development. "Physiography for High Schools" (D. C. Heath & Co.), by Albert L. Arey, Frank L. Bryant, Wm. W. Clendenin and Wm. T. Morrey, of the High Schools of New York City. Cloth, 460 pp. Maps in illustrations, $1.25. The purpose of the authors is to set before high school pupils such knowledge as they should have of the earth as a whole, its relation to the other heavenly bodies, and the influence of its size, shape and motions upon our daily life. They have placed emphasis upon the natural resources of Our country and their importance, and have given a clear account of the in fluence of climate and physical environment, both upon the history and the development of civilization. "Patriots and Tyrants" (Ginn & Co.), by Marion Florence Lansing, M. A., 40 cents. This excellent work is illustrated by reproductions of drawings from old engravings. "A Reader for the Sixth Grade" (D. Appleton & Co., New York and Chicago), by Clarence F. Carroll, superintendent of schools, Rochester, New York, and Sarah C. Brooks, formerly principal of the Teachers' Training School, Baltimore; also "A Reader for the Seventh Grade," by the same authors. These two readers are reasonably well supplied with descriptive, scientific and purely imaginative selections. Biography, history, nature and art have been carefully chosen so as to correlate with the average school curriculum. "The Progressive Road to Reading" (Silver, Burdett & Co., New York, Boston and Chicago), by Georgine Burchill, teacher, New York City; Wm. L. Ettinger, district superintendent, New York City, and Edgar Dubs Shimer, district superintendent, New York City. The superior value of these readers. will be recognized by those teachers. who give them a critical examination and the classroom test. Briefly stated, the plan of work may be indicated as follows: 1. How to Teach the Basal Stories. 2. Phonetic Development. 3. Written Language Part I, Words. "A Stroke of Genius," so the Chicago Record-Herald characterizes the Divided Page of Webster's New International Dictionary, "The Merriam Webster." The new divided page at once strikes the eye as a novel arrangement of the printed matter. Each vocabulary page of the New International is divided into an upper and lower section. The upper section contains the more important and familiar words-those most frequently sought for, while the lower section in smaller type includes the less looked-for terms, foreign phrases, abbreviations, uncommon dialect words, etc. Consultation is greatly facilitated. Nine times out of ten the word you seek is readily found in the upper section, which is relieved of thousands of minor entries placed below. Thus the divided page is a convenience, besides being a timesaver. Information increased. The smaller type and shorter line of the lower section save much space. The result makes it possible to include in the New International a vast amount of encyclopedic matter never before appearing in any dictionary. The type matter of this new creation is equivalent to a fifteen-volume encyclopedia. The divided page is commended by the highest authorities. cents. Fairy tales, at one time the delightful solace of prince and peasant, are becoming more and more the province of the youthful reader. As the fairytale public grows younger, there is an ever-increasing need of simplicity and directness in the retelling of these oldworld, famous stories. To meet this demand, a new selection of Andersen's Best Fairy Tales has been arranged and adapted by Alice Corbin Hender "Easy German Poetry" (Ginn & Co., Henderson. Cloth, 200 pp. Price, 45 Boston, New York, Chicago and London), by Chester W. Collmann, supervising principal of Public Schools, West Salem, Wis. 140 pp., 40 cents. The fact that the study of poetry should be quite as important a feature of high school instruction in the foreign language as it is in English, is being recognized by all progressive, thoughtful teachers. The present deplorable neglect of this point among German classes is, it is believed, largely due to the lack of a suitable collection of German poems, edited by some one who understands the needs of elementary students. "Love in a Mask" (Rand, McNally & Co., Chicago), by Balzac. A manuscript by Balzac of the most daring and piquant interest, buried for fifty years, and treating a subject half a century in advance of its time. "Love in a Mask" can not fail to have a strong interest for lovers in America of the great French writer. Written at the height of his career, the manuscript was a gift from the author to the Duchess de Dino over a half century ago. All these years it has lain in the ducal library, preserved in the very case in which Balzac placed it. Recently, passing in a direct line from Maurice de Tallyrand Perigord, the present Duc de Dino-and son of the Duchess to the French publisher, it first appeared in print in Paris, the spring of 1911. son. This selection includes such stories as are within reach of the young child's understanding, and such, moreover, as exhibit the widest range of Andersen's versatile genius. Based upon a literal translation and retold in simple and dramatic form, a new energy is imparted to almost every sentence in the book, and this without sacrificing the deft humorous touches, the philosophy and spontaneity, that have made Andersen renowned as a story-teller throughout the world. "Japanese Fairy Tales" (Rand, McNally & Co.), by Sanchi Ogwa. Cloth, 96 pp. Price, 50 cents. The Second Series of Japanese Fairy Tales by Teresa Peirce Williston, if anything, is even more fascinating than the first. The book opens wide to American children a field of imagination which until the First Series appeared was enjoyed only by the little. In this edition it is seen for the first people of the East. Delicate and fine in conception, these stories with their pictures of Oriental life, their atmosphere of magic and mystery, naturally have a strong attraction, not only for time in America. "Andersen's Best Fairy Tales" (Rand, McNally & Co.), by William P. |