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The Irish Monthly, August 1887.
'It comes to us fittingly with a clustered group of little children's heads shining from the soft white covers. Once again the children have made the inspiration of this most delicate and whimsical muse, and once again the grown-up world may gladly stand still to listen. The book has all the quaintness and naiveté which one has learned to expect from Mrs. Piatt, and also the hint of tears in its laughter which is so great a charm in this writer's work. . .. Her tiny volume is very exquisitely produced, and, small as it is, may be trusted to win its way to high honour and into many hearts.'
The Liverpool Mercury, August 17, 1887.
'The ballads contained in it are few in number, but they are excellent in quality—as acceptably novel in subject as they are original in thought and fresh in tone.'
The Weekly Register (London), July 21, 1886.
'In the present volume the author has included few of those profounder meditations on childhood which will make her name memorable, but the lighter fancies here presented are delicate and personal, like all her beautiful work in verse.'
The Literary World, November 1887.
'Nothing could be more natural, for the author has an extraordinary insight into a child's way of expressing its thoughts. We cannot do better than to quote, without further comment, one of these charming little poems.'
The Pictorial World, August 1887.
'A little volume as choice in its contents as it is dainty in its exterior. . . . The contents . . . will become as thorough household words with children of a larger growth, as, say, "The Water-Babies," or Mrs. Ewing's "Jackanapes." Needs not at this date to enlarge upon Mrs. Piatt's poetical gifts, upon the wealth of melody distinguishing her verse, or on the humour and pathos which it embodies. But it may be frankly said that never has she written in a more sympathetic stain, or been seen to greater advantage than in this pretty, tiny book. What could be tenderer or more moving in its half-humorous pathos than that picture of the three babies who set out to look for their Atlantis, only to find at last that the ship had sailed without them? In this weary world one can hardly smile at such a story. How like an echo from Andersen is "The Watch of a Swan."'
The Graphic, September 10, 1887.
'A most delightful little volume of verse. . . . Apart from her poetic gifts, which as every one knows are great, Mrs. Piatt has the rare one of a delicate sense of humour; nothing could be better of its kind than the idea of the child at Holyrood; and the "Three Little Emigrants" is charming. If this lady did not write so well on graver themes, one could wish that she would always write for those of us who are children either in years or in heart. . . . The little volume is as dainty to look at as it is pleasant to read."
ELLIOT STOCK, 62 PATERNOSTER Row, London.
