Our Book Shelf

Abstract

“THERE are still mothers who wish to retain some portion of that influence which nature intended them to have in the training of their children, and who refuse to abandon it wholly either to the schoolmaster or the state. To such as these this little book is offered as a help in laying the foundations of one of the most important branches of instruction.” In fifty-eight chapters the tender student is led pleasantly, clearly, and thoroughly, from the very simplest notions which lie at the threshold of arithmetic till he (or she), having solved many of the giant's easy riddles, is in a very good position to find out for himself some of the harder ones. We should say that the child who has had this course carefully laid before it, will have had its interest maintained throughout without flagging, for the mode of presenting the subject is such as to excite attention without causing fatigue. The lessons are all short, the questions pointed, and such as to draw out what knowledge has been acquired. Very little more is done than to explain the elementary operations of numeration, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Towards the close a glance is given at some of the giant's more recondite mysteries, as of parts or fractions of things. Much useful, if elementary, information is conveyed in small doses as the child is able to receive it, but there is nothing childish in the matter or the manner. We should say that the best way to use the book would be for the parent (or governess) to master each lesson well beforehand, so that there should be little or no reference to the book during lesson-time, except, perhaps, for the purpose of looking at the illustrative drawings. We feel sure that when the “good bye” is reached there will be few to call Arithmos unkind names and say “he is a horrid, cross old thing,” and that “they hate him, and wish such a giant had never been made.”

The Great Giant Arithmos, a Most Elementary Arithmetic.

By Mary Steadman Aldis. (London: Macmillan, 1881.)