Walter Jerrold
Published: 2017-12-07
Total Pages: 346
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Book Size: 8 1/2" x 11." About 400 illustrations by Charles Robinson, many full-page illustrations. * * * * * The "Big Book of Nursery Rhymes" (edited by Walter Jerrold, illustrated by Charles Robinson) contains familiar rhymes in a beautiful setting It is indeed a big book, handsome inside and out. The rhymes are the same as we heard in the nursery, the story of Simple Simon, the adventures however, that few of the Writers and illustrators of so-called children's books are able to produce the real genuine article -a book which is suited to children, appreciated by children, and written or drawn for children. Too many of the present-day books for a child, though clever and attractive in themselves, are either far above the heads of the readers to whom they are supposed to appeal, or else, what is much worse, obviously "written down" to the child's level. The average youthful reader detects this at once and very justly resents it. The illustrator has drawn the pictures with rare humor and charm. There are all sorts of verses, game rhymes, historical pieces, folk-lore, counting-out rhymes, in fact, every sort of fragment that we call a nursery rhyme. Some of the longer rhymes have been considerably cut, as for instance in the case of "Jack Horner," of which only one verse is now generally used. The recipient of such a gift as "The Big Book of Nursery Rhymes" is a person to be congratulated. It is a book that will never grow stale or dull with age, and is sure still to be a favorite when more exciting books of adventure begin to pall. The editor and illustrator alike are entitled to hearty praise for this admirable gift book. --The Academy and Literature, Volume 65
