The sole purpose of this book is to help the children to learn to read.
While it may ultimately lead to the acquisition of knowledge concerning
many subjects, its present aim is only to make reading easy. The
lessons are, therefore, on subjects familiar to every child. The words
are such as children habitually use in conversation; they are
introduced gradually, and as a rule are repeated many times. Since
proficiency in reading is best attained by much practice, care has been
taken to present as large an amount as possible of interesting matter
which the child can readily master. Every line is for the pupil to
read. The stories are so constructed as to encourage and secure
naturalness of expression without the intervention of rules or formal
drills. The gradation both in thought and in expression is easy and
natural.
Although the learning of words by much repetition and familiarity with
their forms is an essential feature of this book, its foundation is
nevertheless phonetic. Yet, for the sake of leaving it perfectly
adaptable to any method of teaching, the phonetic basis has not been
emphasized. The systematic introduction of words which may serve as
key-words for the acquisition of others containing similar phonetic
elements has been carefully observed, and it is believed that this is
the natural method untrammeled by any artificial classification.
As further aids toward making the child's first reading lessons easy,
the sentences are short. There are no broken lines in the first hundred
pages. Indentations help the young reader to keep the place. There are
no interfering illustrations in the text. Each story is complete
without turning a leaf.
Grateful acknowledgments are extended to Miss Frances Lilian Taylor of
Galesburg, Illinois, to Mr. W. J. Button of Chicago, and to Miss
Matilda Mitchell, primary teacher, Phillips Brooks School, Boston, for
valuable suggestions and assistance.