Great Collection of Children's Books, Mysteries
by Hitchcock, in Joint Efforts of Three Publishers
As a combined effort by Random
House, Alfred A. Knopf and
Pantheon Books, there is a con-
tinuing flow of children's books,
and the products are so impressive
that they deserve special atten-
tion. With emphasis on the ed-
ucational merits of such works,
taking into account the interests
of the teen-agers and catering to
the very young who either are be-
ginning to read or for whom the
books must be read, there is a
variety of books for the young that
leaves a marked impression.
Thus, under the Random im-
print, the three leading publishing
houses have just issued a volume
of "12 shuddery stories for daring
young readers" under the title
"Alfred Hitchcoc k's Monster
Museum."
Illustrate d, impressively,
splendidly, by Earl E. Mayan,
these are stories for the fear-
less, and there is an admonition
by Hitchcock that if the young
reader will keep in mind that
what he narrates are stories,
he "will be fine." The stories
_ collected for this volume by
Hitchcock are from the writings
of noted storytellers, including
Stephen Vincent Benet, Manly
Wade Wellman, Guy Endore,
Joseph Payne Brennan, Idris
Seabright, Miriam Allen de Ford,
Paul Ernest, Jerome Bixby, Will
F. Jenkins, Theodore Sturgeon,
Richard Parker and Ray Brad-
bury.
And to the Random credit is
another Hitchcock volume — a
series of stories, "The Mystery of
the Whispering Mummy," by Rob-
ert Arthur, - illustrated by Harry
Kane, with an introduction by
Hitchcock and a series of appended
questions by him related to these
narratives. Lovers of mysteries—
the fearless—will be thrilled by
these thrillers.
* * *
In the latter series there is an-
other Hitchcock collection about
"The Three Investigators," entitled
"The Mystery of the Green Ghost,"
also by Arthur and Kane. The
same procedure is followed here
— the narratives,- a warning to
the reader by Hitchcock, the work
of the investigators as guided by
Hitchcock.
* * *
And while on the question of
mysteries and the horror tales
for the brave young, the Random
productions that deserve serious
consideration by the discriminat-
ing young reader include "Davy
Jones' Haunted Locker."
These are ghost stories of the
sea, collected by Robert Arthur,
who once again emerges a master
in judging tales with thrilling and
suspense aspects. Joseph Cellini
ably illustrated this book.
Arthur authored the first tale.
The concluding item is a sonnet
from William Shakespeare's Ariel's
Song from "The Tempest." A num-
ber of noted authors, John Mase-
field, Benet, Charles Kingsley and
others, are represented in the
collection. The appendix, about the
stories and their authors, is a valu-
able and informative addition to a
good book.
* * *
We come now to the books for
the very young. "Babar Comes to
America" by Laurent de Brunhoff,
who wrote the text and drew
the charming pictures, is offered
in a translation from the French
by M. Jean Craig. It is a marvelous
introduction to all of us — to our
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
8—Friday, October 15, 1965
country, our institutions, the peo-
ple, their habits and way of life.
While Babar, the king of the
elephantS, learns about America,
he also instructs the readers about
their country. '
Not only Disneyland, and New
York, and the Grand Canyon, but
Detroit also is introduced in this
charming tale. The people —
some of the great Americans
are part of the story — and the
industries --are visited, explained.
It's a wonderful tale by a French:.
man who understands America!
Remarkably, Laurent de Brun-
hoff continues the Babar story in
another large children's volume,
"Babar's Spanish Lesson s."
Illustrated as well as written by
him, the Spanish words for this
book — "Las Lecciones Espanoles
de Babar"—are by Roberto Eyza-
guirre. This is a story and a les-
son in Spanish—combined! What
ingenuity!
The creative works of Beginners
Books, the Random House division,
do not end here. There is another
impressive book — large, readable,
beautifully illustrated. It is "The
Cat in the Hat Beginners Book —
Dictionary in French."
Based on the original Beginners
Book Dictionary, it was adapted
into Beginners' French by Odette
Filloux of the University of Calif-
ornia department of linguistics at
San Diego. It is enthusiastically ac-
claimed in an introductory page by
Jean Vallier, executive director of
Alliance Francaise de New York.
Add to _ the fine collection of
children's books a splendid story
about a dog — • "My Name Is
Nicole" by Maud Frere. Robin
Gottlieb translated it from the
French, and the full color illustra-
tions are by Nadine Forster. It is
a well-told story that will hold
the reader's attention and- has the
quality that is so vital for chil-
dren's books — that the youngsters
will wish to return to it again
and again.
Under the Knopf imprint, this
series is further enriched. "The
Good Tiger" by Elizabeth Bowen,
illustrated by M. Nebel, has the
charm provided by a well told
story about a zoo and an escape-
from-the-zoo that ends in a friend-
ly sharing of a cake by the
ferocious animal with the children
in the tale. The French born artist
Nebel helps make this a splendid
tale. The cover appropriately
advises that this is "A Read Alone
Book." It'll delight the reader.
Then there is the Knopf-im-
printed "Jimmy Takes Vanishing
Lessons" by Walter L. Brooks,
illustrated by Don Bolognese. It is
a hilarious story about a timid
ghost, about Jimmy in the haunted
house, about the mysteries the–boy
creates. This Halloewen spirited
spoof narrative is another of the
type of story that will encourage
rereading and will provide good
entertainment for young book lov-
ers.
Especially attractive for little
girls is Phyllis La Farge's "Kate
and the Wild Kittens," well
illustrated by Ingrid Fetz. This is
another in the "Read Alone Book"
series. The little heroine, the
littlest on her block, acquires a
cat of her own. The manner of
the acquisition, the well-motivated
story, the other cats and the char-
acters an the block, young and
old, complete a cast of characters
that' turns the narrative into a
beautiful story for youngsters.
* * *..
Random House children's publi-
cations. devoted to studies of the
animal kingdom assume an im-
portant educational position.
Patricia Lauber has not only
written a good story in her "The
Surprising Kangaroos," but has
greatly increased the value of her
work with the splendid series of
photographs. The new Lauber book
explains the American Opossums,
mammals with and without pouch-
es, Marsupials, etc.
Another important children's
book from Random House is Alex-
ander L. Crosby's "The World of
Rockets," which contains many
photographs and drawings.
This book is scientific and histor-
ical, starting off with a Cape Ken-
nedy countdown, continuing with
the basic facts relating to recent
satellites and rockets develop-
ments.
Port of Jaffa, Age 3,000,
to Go Into Retirement
TEL AVIV (JTA)—The port of
Jaffa which has been in continu-
ous operation for 3,000 years, will
be shut down on Nov. 9. All
workers at the' Jaffa port have
been offered employment at the
new Israel port . of Ashdod which
is due to open on. Nov. 24.
Several suggestions for the fu-
ture use of the Jaffa port have
been submitted to the Israel Port
Authority. Among these are pro-
posals that the part' be turned
into a pleasure boat marina, a
fishing port and a maritime train-
ing- school.
This artist's rendering depicts Brandeis University's Leo Gers-
tenzang Science Quadrangle which will be dedicated during a four-
day celebration beginning Nov. 4. The dedication will conclude with
an academic convocation Nov. 7, at which time honorary degrees
will be conferred upon 12 persons distinguished in science. The
new science enclave will quadruple Brandeis' teaching and research
plant for its science programs and will provide the most modern
facilities and equipment for the study of physics, biophysics, astro-
physics, chemistry, biochemistry, biology and mathematics. The
quadrangle will also contain a two-story science library with space
for 250,000 volumes.
Mexican Minister to View Israel Irrigation on Visit
MEXICO CITY (JTA) — Presi- Israeli irrigation techniques. Before
dent Gustavo Diaz Ordaz of Mexico his departure, Teran met with
is seeking better and closer rela- Israeli Ambassador Shimshon Arad.
tions with Israel, Jose Hernandez
Teran, minister of water resources,
WHEN YOU ,9ic A COCKTAIL
said before leaving for Israel for
an official visit at the invitation
of the Israel government.
Teran, who will accompanied on
his visit by a number of irriga-
tion experts, will study modern
It happens every year about this time. Drivers
for nationwide car-hauling services load up with
Detroit's No.1 product and take off for faraway
places. And now new-car buyers throughout
the country are getting their first look at the
1966 models. If a new car is part of your plans,
tell your dealer you want a Detroit Bank & Trust
auto loan and we'll take it from there. Rates
are low. You get a quick okay. And who knows?
You may be driving to faraway places yourself.
DETROIT BANK Er TRUST
swish National Fund
18414 WYOMING
Planned Brandeis U. Quadrangle
0
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Our Ancestors". Say it with
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