Marguerite Cook

Nauseating.

That is probably all the review this book needs. Nineteenth century books for children of course had a tendency to be pwecious, pwecious, pwecious, but this is ridiculous. Roughly two-thirds of the book consists of hymn-like items urging readers to drop their pennies in the altar plate (there are five "penny songs"!), sit up straight, and never, ever, every use their minds. Then comes a section mostly on temperance, with a few odds and ends such as watching a kitten. The author has even parodied George F. Root's "The Vacant Chair" into a song for a child who is not in school on this particular day.

It doesn't matter if you are Christian or not, the mind-numbing imbecility of this publication will surely get to you. Blech.… (meer)