Reading-Literature: First Reader

In 1910, the primer of this series was addressed to "little children learning to read." We call them "emerging readers" today but the need for quality, literary reading material remains the same. The old stories still charm and interest them and this unabridged republication by Yesterday's Classics is full of stories, poetry, and fairy tales. If you've found yourself bewildered by the new versions of old favorites, you'll be glad to know that won't happen here. These are the stories as you probably read them years ago (or at least they're the ones I read). The numerous black and white illustrations are charming and the layout (well-spaced, large print) draws young readers to the page. While there is no phonics and reading instruction included, there is a gradual increase in both reading skills and vocabulary development that is subtly built into the series.

The Primer includes nine folk tales written in a simple style so children can easily and quickly begin to read a real story. The First Reader provides 13 similar stories, gradually increasing in difficulty, and adds rhymes and jingles suitable for young children. The Second Reader continues with folk tales and simple poems and introduces fables and fairy stories. Favorite children's authors are featured - Mother Goose, Rossetti, and Stevenson. The Third Reader features wonder tales such as Aladdin and the Lamp, Black Beauty, and Alice in Wonderland along with groups of poetry from well-loved poets (Stevenson, Lucy Larcom, Lydia Maria Child, and Eugene Field). The stories in these books will take your children to far-away places and open wide their mind's eye. ~ Janice