COLLECTION #222: Vintage Silver Burdett Readers

These wonderful readers are from the Learning to Read series of early elementary readers published by Silver Burdett in 1945. Unlike many readers series, these books do not go all the way through elementary school, but cover the early reading years, kindergarten through third grade. My collection is incomplete.

The pre-primer and primer books feature the adorable Bill and Susan. I love Susan's fun braids with the extra twist, and Bill has a little mini-pompadour thing going on with his hair.

One of my favorite illustrations... I just want to jump right into this scene and live there.

Adorable illustrations by Corinne Malvern

The first couple of books are illustrated by talented artist Janice Holland, then new illustrators are added in, including my favorite, Corrine Malvern. As is typical, the first few books are centered on the main characters and their family, and subsequent books add folk tales,  stories from many lands, and other characters.

Politically incorrect tales of Mexico.

A lifestyle long gone

COLLECTION #197: Vintage Macmillan Readers

Is there any end to my elementary readers? Well, no. I still have lots more! Today's reader collection are the Macmillan Readers from the early 1950s. I have several books from both the 1951-52, and 1957 series. I never tire of looking at these books, and enjoying the simple stories and sweet illustrations.  I will refrain from editorializing about the homogenous ethnic makeup of the children and families in these books, it was a different time, and that doesn't negate the messages and educational value of the books.

I was pleased to see that in one of the books called Tommy Little, which is about a little boy who moves from the farm to the city, there is some teasing and conflict resolution. Tommy doesn't like a little girl who calls him Tommy from a Little Farm. In the book he actually says he doesn't like her! Wow! Pretty controversial for 1951!

Enjoy the pictures and covers of my series of books.