GRADUATED SERIES OF ENGLISH READING-BOOKS. In 5 vols. fcp 8vo price 10s cloth, each of which Volumes may be had separately as below, THE GRADUATED SERIES OF FIVE READING-LESSON BOOKS WITH EXPLANATORY NOTES; Adapted, as a Progressive Course of Reading, for all Classes of English Schools and Families. Edited by J. S. LAURIE, Editor of the Shilling Entertaining Library, &c. FIRST BOOK, 192 Pages, Sixth Edition SECOND BOOK, 256 Pages, Fifth Edition THIRD BOOK, 312 Pages, Sixth Edition THIS is an entirely new series of Reading-Books, carefully adapted throughout to the requirements of modern education. The Five Books are arranged each in corresponding sections, on a serial and uniform scheme of progressive, yet constantly varied selections. BOOK I. consists of rhymes and fireside stories, fables and parables, and short simple tales, all within the comprehension of children who have mastered the first steps in reading. Book II. contains miscellanies, tales of adventure, imaginative and real, anecdotes in natural history, and ballad poetry all preliminary to the Third Book. Book III. s. d. 1 0 1 6 2 0 2 6 comprises literary selections in prose and verse, descriptive travel, natural history (with reference to the previous section), and narratives of English history. Book IV. to which the Third Book is introductory, is a further extension of the same general plan, with the addition of a division on the more popular branches of Natural Science and Physics, sequentially arranged. Book V., which completes the course, forms a further advance and a completion of the general plan, and aims at answering the practical purposes of a Class-book of later English Literature. By the same Author. FIRST STEPS to READING: being an Introduction to the Graduated Series of English Reading-Books. Fcp 8vo PART I. price 3d, PART II. price 6d sewed; or complete, price 10d cloth. Or the whole conspicuously printed in bold type for Class Teaching, on a Set of Broadside Sheets, price 4s 6d, or price 78 the Set of BROADSIDES mounted as 15 Cardboards, or 98 6d with convenient IRON FRAME; the IRON FRAME, separately, price 28 6d LAURIE'S ENTERTAINING LIBRARY. In course of publication, in Quarterly Volumes, from January 1863, each volume in square 18mo, with Six full-page Illustrations, price One Shilling cloth, or Ninepence sewed, THE SHILLING ENTERTAINING LIBRARY, Adapted to the requirements of School Libraries, Families, and Working Men. By J. S. LAURIE, Editor of the Graduated Series of Reading-Lesson Books, &c. ROBINSON CRUSOE. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS. CHRISTMAS TALES. THE object of the ENTERTAINING LIBRARY is to provide the young and, generally speaking, the less educated portion of the community with books which they will find readable. Many similar projects have been started, and have failed. The Proprietors of the present LIBRARY believe that those failures are to be ascribed to a fundamental deficiency which, with proper attention and care, may be fully supplied. In undertakings of this kind too little allowance has been made for what may almost be termed the repulsiveness of a book to the untutored mind. Children freed from irksome tasks, and working men wearied with a hard day's toil, cannot possibly be induced to read until they find out what a wealth of entertainment is concealed under the hard, ungraceful forms of typography. Nothing appears more certain than that they will not read at all, unless materials are placed before them which are calculated to arouse their interest and enchain their attention. The practical problem to be solved would seem to be to furnish a selection of works which will appeal to that dominant principle in the human breast, the love of pleasure. The aim of the Editor of the ENTERTAINING LIBRARY is to provide an ample and varied repast for the gratification of this instinct. The concentration of his efforts upon this single point will give the present series of books its distinctive character. A glance at the sources upon which he has already drawn will, it is believed, convince those who are acquainted with English literature, that such volumes as the ENTERTAINING LIBRARY promises to contain will necessarily tend to enlarge the intellectual views, and to direct and strengthen the moral sentiments of every reader. But the prime end kept in view will be to afford, in a wide and liberal sense, pleasure and amusement; and to this end whatever bears more directly upon the practical utilities of life will invariably be held subordinate. It is proper to state that the Editor assumes the right of adapting the original text so as to suit his purpose. Grammatical constructions which are too involved and difficult will be simplified; modern words and idioms will be substituted for such as have become obsolete or nearly obsolete; and in all cases passages which are unsuitable to the young will be expunged. Care will be taken to adorn each of the volumes with a number of striking illustrations. The illustrations to the three volumes now ready are drawn by Mr. Sandercock, rising artist, whose merit has been acknowledged by competent judges. Special attention will be paid to the binding of the volumes. They will be prepared for being well thumbed. The type, also, in which they will be printed will be of the clearest and distinctest kind that can be procured. Quarterly, uniform with the above three: Volumes preparing for Publication AND OTHER WORKS. |