When we remember the ill-drawn and gaudily coloured prints with which, until these few years, it was the fashion to illustrate all books intended for the use and amusement of young people, we cannot but be forcibly struck with the improvement which has taken place in this respect. These remarks have been suggested to us by a couple of children's books just issued by Messrs. Addey, in the illustration of which those tasteful publishers have employed the able pencil of Hablot Browne. The first, _Home and its Pleasures, Simple Stories for Young People_, by Mrs. Harriet Myrtle, contains eight admirable designs; while _Aunt Effie's Rhymes for Little Children_--and Aunt Effie is a most capital writer of Rhymes for Babyland--is enriched with no less than twenty-four illustrations, some of which are rich in the peculiar humour of this artist. To the same house we are also indebted for a work of still higher interest, namely, a new and complete edition of _The Danish Fairy Legends and Tales_, by Hans Christian Andersen, containing (besides a Memoir of the Author) no less than forty-five tales, translated direct from the original language, and not through any German version. This will be good news to all who know and admire the playful humour and deep imaginings of the great Danish Story Teller. _Child's Play, Seventeen Drawings by E. V. B._, demands notice, not as a work of literature, but of Art, and Art of a very high order. For fancy, grace, and simplicity, these exquisite illustrations of some of our old Nursery Rhymes may challenge comparison with any works of a similar character with which we are acquainted. Produced by the Anastatic process, they show how available that process may be made to the requirements of the amateur: for, admirable as are these designs, they owe their existence to the taste and artistic skill of a lady; for we believe "E. V. B." designates the Hon. Mrs. Boyle. Little wonder, as poor Theodore Hook would have said, to find one of the _Cork_ family distinguished for _drawing_.