Adapted to the Six Standards of the 'Revised Code Foolscap 8vo, all strongly bound in cloth, THE 'STANDARD' SERIES The SIXTH OF CHEAP READING-BOOKS FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, By J. S. LAURIE, Editor of the Graduated Series,' &c. s. d. Price 0 3 3 6 0.4 0 6 0 9 1 0 1 3 1 6 The 'STANDARD' PRIMER, or Easy Hornbook, 32 pages The same in folio Reading-Sheets, bold type The FIRST STANDARD READER; or, Tales and Rhymes, 64 pp. The SECOND STANDARD' READER; or, Stories of Children, 96 pp. The THIRD 'STANDARD' READER; or, Stories of Animals, 160 pp. The FOURTH 'STANDARD READER; or, Fables and Parables, 208 pp. The FIFTH 'STANDARD READER; or, Poetry and Adventure, 256 pp.,, 'STANDARD READER; or, Descriptive Sketches, 320 pp. The present Cheap Series of Reading-Books is an attempt to supply poor Schools with materials corresponding to those with which the Graduated Series' has already supplied those placed in more favorable circumstances. The lessons are progressively graduated: the subject matter aims at a combination of instructiveness with attractiveness; the information intended to be conveyed is intelligible, and expressed in simple language. The typography of the volumes is bold and clear, and the binding of a stout and lasting description. SPECIMEN PAGES FORWARDED ON APPLICATION. The Standard' Writing Exercise Books in preparation. NOTICES OF THE PRESS. "The Standard Primer is a capital book, based on the manifest philosophy of the English language and on common sense. The leading idea is to found a system of reading on words already familiar to the child, and of simple spelling. In the Primer' these words are grouped into easy sentences, each word being based on the short vowel sounds in the first ten pages, and on the long vowel sounds in the second ten pages. Columns of spelling, containing altogether 340 words in fine large type, illustrate these vowel sounds. There are double spaces between each word; so that the page has all the charm of a page in the large family Bible. The latter portion of this easy hornbook is miscellaneous, half being of prose and the rest rhymes, in type one degree smaller, with 100 words for spelling, and closing with a song set to the alphabet by T. Murby. We have analysed this primer more particularly because upon its success will depend mainly the success of the rest of the series; but our own opinion is that it is sound and good, and thoroughly adapted to promote true progress in the difficult art of learning to read. The First Standard Reader, adapted to the requirements of the first standard of the Revised Code, contains sixty-six lessons, each sentence forming a separate paragraph in the early lessons. This is true philosophy, too, for it relieves the eye of a child-dreading, as he does, to see a solid page of type before him without a single streak of white anywhere to break the woeful monotony. Afterwards the sentences are grouped in short paragraphs, and into larger ones as the book advances. As early as the fifth and seventh pages numerals and writing characters are introduced, the latter being a novelty in reading books; but it is certainly as necessary to teach children to read writing as to read print. Every lesson is replete with interest; every sentence conveys a distinct idea, exciting feelings of wonder, and gratifying that innate curiosity so characteristic of childhood. The ordinary phenomena of nature, the characteristics and habits of the common beasts, animals, and birds, the incidents of social life, different trades, house scenes, farming, cattle, and country life, are all laid under contribution. The last two pages have the addition and multiplication tables, and a pretty song by T. Murby. The Second Standard Reader,' adapted to the requirements of the second standard of the Revised Code, does not yield in quality to its predecessors, and 13 astonishingly cheap. The large script headings of the lessons are a great improvement on the usual Roman capitals. The first half consists chiefly of stories of animals, and rhymes, which children read and revel in to the thousandth time from sheer delight. Such a collection of simple, cheerful, healthful, stories does not exist in the London: LONGMAN, GREEN, & CO., 14 Ludgate Hill. language at any price; they enchant, but do not bewilder; they rivet the attention, but do not fatigue the mind. More arithmetic tables and another of Mr. Murby's songs close the volume. These are excellent and sensible books for children of all classes; the best we know-and we know a few. The constructions and idioms are easy and natural, and they are got up in a first-rate style and are exceedingly cheap. We feel bound to confess that our author is doing a real service for education, simplifying it, defining it, endeavouring to lay down an universal pathway somewhat analogous to modern improvements in the sciences and the arts."-Western Morning News. "This series of cheap reading books is accommodated to the definite and practical requirements enforced in the Revised Code of the Committee of Council on Education. It is a set of books so reasonable in price as to be within the means of the poorest country school, and reachable by the pence of the scholars themselves. It is printed in the clearest type, and the size is well adapted to use without injury. But the higher merits are those of fitness to the work of instruction in common schools. Mr. Laurie's series meets what we have felt to be a want; and we know no set of books that we should so readily give to the hands of children in primary schools, with the hope of their exciting an interest in even the wearisome labour of learning to read."-Nonconformist. "These books form a series constructed for the purpose of enabling teachers to bring their children up to the level of the several standards' appointed by the authors of the new revised code of education. They are by an author who has already done remarkable service to this good cause, and whose name would of itself be a sufficient guarantee of the quality of the books. But, not satisfied with our knowledge of this fact, we have examined very carefully these three little books. They appear to us not only admirably adapted for their purpose, but also extremely interesting in themselves. Every arrangement that can possibly smooth the path of the learner, and lighten and sweeten the labors of the teacher, has been adopted; every plan that the most considerate thoughtfulness can suggest to interest the child, while his progress is assured, has been employed; and every kind of literature that the most extensive knowledge commands has been laid under contribution by the compiler, for the benefit of the younger children. Indeed, it is both amusing and interesting to observe the very various sources from which Mr. Laurie has drawn these riches of the mind-riches for the heart as well as for the brain-from the old ballad literature of England, from the perhaps still older fairy and nursery-rhyme literature, from Southey, Wordsworth, John Bunyan, modern novelists and tale-writers, and, lastly, from a writer for children who is not the least-from himself. The prose stories are interspersed with the most charming verses and versicles, such as, carried in a child's memory, must do much to cheer, to soften, and to civilize him. In one word, we cannot imagine a more excellent set of books to learn reading from; we cannot think that the path of children could be more crowded with roses, or more steeped in sunshine. A thoughtful, kindly hand leads them on, and their progress to the standards of the revised code must, with such a guide, be, instead of a toilsome journey full of obstacles to trip on and watered with tears-a jolly laughing procession of happy children. In addition to being well compiled in every respect and adapted in the highest degree to their purpose, the books are well printed, strongly and neatly bound, and remarkably cheap. We are as certain of their success as we are satisfied of their singular efficiency."-Examiner and Times. "Among the numerous labourers in the book-making field, not the least eminent is Mr. J. S. Laurie, one of H.M. Inspectors of Schools. He had done good service to the cause of education in issuing his Graduated Series of Reading Lesson Books,' which was very favorably received, and has been extensively circulated; and now that he has sent forth his Standard Series of Cheap Reading Books, adapted to the requirements of the Revised Code,' we confidently predict a measure of success for it equal to that of its predecessor. It consists of seven volumes, beautifully printed, and strongly bound; and, as a whole, admirably adapted to elementary schools. We have seen little to equal, and nothing to surpass it for this purpose. Mr. Laurie has the inimitable art of vividly realizing the child's imagination, and effectively touching the chords of his cherished sympathies; and whether the lesson be a monosyllable narrative, or the dry subject of figures, or the more attractive exercise in geography, this scholarly teacher of the infant mind is equally at home. We cordially recommend this series of books for the use of elementary schools in Scotland, as well as in England."-Elgin Cant. "The Standard Series of Reading Books,' six in number, is adapted to the requirements of that Revised Code of which we have heard so much lately; and we think that the editor has contrived, in a most skilful manner--by a collection of easy and interesting storiesby careful graduation of the different parts-by the introduction of written characters and figures, and by a few clever, simple lessons on number-to provide materials out of which the rising generation may pleasantly and profitably earn those grants for which managers and teachers of schools have been trembling."-Glasgow Citizen. London: LONGMAN, GREEN, & CO., 14 Ludgate Hill. LONGAAN |