McGuffey, Third Reader

At the end of my daughter's kindergarten class (she was 5) I was told by her school that she would probably start reading in first grade. Half way through first grade, I was told she was a little slow and not picking up things as fast as she could. At this point, I stepped in and taught my daughter to read using "Noah Websters' Blue Backed Speller" and "McGuffey's Readers." "McGuffey's Readers" are a delight. I read the books cover to cover and loved every single story contained therein. These two literary tools [the Readers and the BB Speller] were how America learned to read for 150 years. And after *wasting* 18 months listening to reading "specialists" in public schools, *I* taught my daughter to read in under 6 weeks. She is now in her sophomore year of college (honor student, too) and is a prolific reader. I *highly* recommend McGuffey's Readers for any parent who wants to teach their child to read. It is a book you will keep forever, and it is something to be handed down to your children and their children and on and on. And as a prior reviewer stated, they are a real keyhole peak into a bygone time. Plus, the stories are very moral and leave a strong [good!] impression on young minds.

I can't believe that this book was used in this country's public schools once upon a time! (It actually mentions God, although it doesn't ascribe to any one particular religion). It's values and lessons like these that once helped this nation become great. What else do you expect when its citizens are taught as young students to obey/respect adults, help the weak, speak gently, be honest, not backbite, not show-off, etc.? I feel that today's books are afraid to teach morals to our children, and the vocabulary and sentence structure in today's readers are too simplistic. I am thrilled with this find and am recommending it to everyone. I love the discussions that each passage sparks in my household and it's safe to say that my 8 yr old and 6 yr old sons are enjoying it as much as I am.

The McGuffey's Revised Second and Third Eclectic Readers combine a number of lessons into one. They can be used for reading comprehension or as copybooks for improving handwriting skills. The numerous poems can be used to improve memory skills. Furthermore, many of the lessons are focused on nature subjects such as birds, insects, farm animals, etc., and will supplement a natural history text for teaching early scientific observation. Most importantly, all the lessons are moral and help to preserve childhood innocence, something that is sorely needed in today's world. Filled with beautiful illustrations, these hardcover textbooks are an outstanding value.