Are you curious about the world?  Do you wonder about early man, the Middle Ages, modern times, and how they all connect?  Years ago, Mr. Hendrik van Loon sat at his typewriter at a table cluttered with books in a room on Seventh Avenue in New York City and wrote this story.  It is a long one, but if you don’t quit, you’ll learn to climb the tower and see for your yourself—History, the mighty Tower of Experience. (MK) 

  1923  Lofting, Hugh.  The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle.  New York: Frederick A. Stokes, 1922. 

Doctor Dolittle is a busy man.  Already, he has learned so many languages, but right now, he is trying to learn the language of shellfish.  It’s a difficult language to learn; shellfish don’t talk much.  Jip the dog and Dab-Dab the duck do what they can to help.  And of course, nine-and-a-half-year-old Tommy Stubbins does his best.  (MK) 

  1924  Hawes, Charles.  The Dark Frigate.  Boston: Little, Brown, 1923. 

The gun went off.  After all, Phillip Marsham had cocked it and aimed, but he hadn’t realized it was loaded.  Now, the young boy must get out of London as fast as he can. He meets two sailors, and the three set sail on the Rose of Devon.  During a storm at sea, pirates seize their ship, and young Phil is forced to join the thieves.  Don’t miss this sea-faring adventure set in the 1600s.  (MK) 

  1925  Finger, Charles.  Tales from Silver Lands.  Garden City, New York: Doubleday, 1924.

Long ago, Charles Finger traveled all over South America listening to stories.  In this book, he tells nineteen tales, including The Hummingbird & the Flower and The Cat & the Dream Man. (MK) 

  1926  Chrisman, Arthur Bowie.  Shen of the Sea.  New York: Dutton, 1925. 

This author studied Chinese literature in California, then made up sixteen stories, trying to capture ancient Chinese traditions. (MK) 

  1927  James, Will.  Smoky, the Cowhorse.  New York: Scribner, 1926. 

This novel tells of the life of a wild mustang and a cowboy who loves him.  Smoky is an intelligent horse who will let no one but Clint ride him.  One fateful day, Smoky and the rest of the herd are stolen.  The vicious rustlers turn him into the wildest bronco on the rodeo circuit.  Years later, broken and destined for the slaughter house, Smoky is reclaimed by Clint who sets out to reclaim the wild mustang’s heart. (BD) 

  1928  Mukerji, Dhan Gopal.  Gay Neck, the Story of a Pigeon.  New York: Dutton, 1927. 

If you love animals and adventure, then this is a perfect book for you.  Gay-Neck the Pigeon was born on a rooftop in Calcutta.  The boy who loved him trained him well.  Gay-Neck learns how to find his way home, how to deliver messages during war, and how to free himself from his fear.(MK) 

  1929  Kelly, Eric P.   The Trumpeter of Krakow.   New York: Macmillan, 1928. 

In 1461, Joseph and his parents are hoping to make it to Krakow, Poland after their home is burned to the ground by the Tartars.  On the road, a horseman jumps his father and demands the pumpkin in their wagon, but Joseph’s father refuses.  Why?  And why does the tower guard never play the last notes of  the trumpet song?  (MK)