: Books of the Day

Wed, 12 May 2004 12:06:11 GMT

BOOK OF THE DAY

I reach further back with this one, published in 1911. It's a little more formal, less sweet, than the Sheridan's fifth-grade reader from 1934. School probably wasn't quite as much fun where Wheeler texts were deployed. Still, an element of romance is perceptible in the few illustrations this reader provides.

BOOK OF THE DAY

Tue, 11 May 2004 08:38:21 GMT

The front matter to this second-grade science text includes the notice "Copyright 1935 in the Philippine Islands by Scott, Foresman and Company." What legal circumstance led publishers to copyright things in the Philippine Islands, I wonder?

BOOK OF THE DAY

Mon, 10 May 2004 19:20:01 GMT

You'll find yesterday's choice at that category page. Today's random pick, a very elementary science textbook from 1937, seems to be geared toward first-graders.

Sun, 09 May 2004 18:01:31 GMT

BOOK OF THE DAY

Here's a random choice from the archives. Much as school--the smell of the building, the crowds of kids, the teachers who didn't get it--terrified me, its books thrilled me to my heart from almost the first day. Not just the ones in use, although their scent straight out of the box when they were new was intoxicating, but the old ones stacked in the back for rifling through during down time. It was from one of those (not this one) that I learned to read on my own, in first grade. Anyway, I'd hoped the grungy old texts I'd accumulated over the years might hold some delights for a grandkid someday. I won't rule it out. But they really should be seen by someone, so here's the first in a series. (Coincidentally this may add momentum to a potential lightning bug/firefly meme inspired by last week's comment thread over at Dr. Omed's place.)