Mrs. Harrison, in writing “The Old Fashioned Fairy Book”[N] has not only opened up a world of delight for little readers in which they can amuse themselves by the hour, but has also conferred a great favor upon mothers and many other older persons by putting into their hands the means by which they may be enabled to respond to the oft repeated wish, “tell us a story, please.” The book is a treasure house in which one may find that which will suit any hour and any mood. There are tales of dwarfs and witches, and “lots of fairies,” and lovely princesses, and brave champions, and all the rest of the things that belong to fairy lore. And charming illustrations set off the whole book; even the cover is a delight. We are pleased to welcome a complete collection of Lucy Larcom’s poems.[O] For many years she has been sending out her fresh, loving verses, until she has won a warm place in the hearts of earnest readers. Her poems possess beside a real melody in versification, a pure, devotional tone which makes them something better than merely pleasing; it makes them inspiring. Her deep appreciation of nature, her quick sympathy with the sorrowing and the tempted, her tender love for childhood, fill her poems, making them most beautiful collections for lovers of verse. “How We Live”[P] is a little book finely illustrated, that treats of Physiology and Hygiene. It is adapted to the use of scholars in the elementary schools. The chapters are short, well arranged, and clearly expressed; at the end of each is a list of questions upon the subjects taught in the chapter, put in a novel and interesting manner. The effects of alcohol and narcotics upon the system are pointed out, but great care has been taken not to exaggerate the statements, as is too often the tendency in a work of this nature. The book merits a welcome from all parents, who should see that their children are learning just such lessons as it teaches, and so growing up to be strong men and women. One of the new series of Appleton’s Science Text-Books is a Compend of Geology.[Q] The aim of the author has been to make an interesting as well as an instructive book, and to direct the attention of scholars to the phenomena now occurring on all sides. No roundabout method for leading up to the study proper has been used, but the author has very simply commenced at the beginning. The directness of the whole book is one of its best features. His method of unfolding the science is at once easy and natural, and can not fail to awaken and retain the close attention of the student. The definitions are clear, concise, and simply stated; the illustrations are numerous and finely supplement the text.