The Child's Library

Beautiful flowers have lately sprung up in the garden of children's literature — and we are in the direst need of their like — namely, a collection of illustrated little stories that has appeared from the pen of Mrs. Edvick Jureidini Shayboub. And who is more entitled than woman to think of the child, to concern herself with him, and to feel his needs? Mrs. Shayboub was among the first to treat the questions of childhood, in the delightful talks she used to broadcast over Radio Lebanon — talks which were decisive proof of Mrs. Shayboub's understanding of children's problems and of their deep psychological needs. Nor should we forget her experience of two full years as directress of the kindergarten of the Lebanese Women's League... this besides her experience at home with her own children... All these factors united to make Mrs. Shayboub press forward with a mother's ardor to share with the rest of the children what is delightful and useful in charming little tales, at once delicious and instructive, packed with news of the farm and the threshing floor, of fishing and the sea, of playing with animals and caring for them, and the like — all accompanied by attractive colored pictures from the brush of the artist Salwa Salah Mishalani. These little stories came to the children like an oasis in the desert; they rush to it with indescribable eagerness and joy and race one another to obtain them — as though our child, this being so, senses what he lacks, even if he falls short of expressing it and demanding it; and this sight alone is enough to reproach us for our negligence toward him and our neglect of him in this respect. May we atone for what we have done before, and may the men of letters come down into the child's arena, supplying him from time to time with little stories, pictures, and news suited to his mentality and his capacity, and developing in him the love of reading from childhood.

We thank Mrs. Edvick for this useful step in the world of letters, and we hope that many will follow in her steps, so that the child's library may be enriched, and his mind and understanding be enriched with it.