To the Reviewer of JUDSON & BENDER'S GRADED LITERATURE READERS, The desire on the part of teachers to reach a just appreciation of the relative merits of school readers, prompts us to invite attention to the following characteristic features of Judson & Bender's Graded Literature Readers, First Book-features which, in the opinion of successful primary teachers, are regarded as essential elements in determining the real value of the reader for beginners. We hope you will be interested in noting the references given to show how fully our editors have recognized these essentials in the plan and execution of their work, for we are entirely confident that the more carefully our books are considered from the standpoint of class room experience, the stronger will be the conviction that, with respect to educational, literary, and artistic features, Judson & Bender's First Reader reaches a standard of excellence not hitherto attained or even attempted. We have laid emphasis on the First Book because it is rightly regarded as the most important book in any series of readers. According as the true conditions are recognized in the method of teaching, the beginner is encouraged or discouraged in acquiring the requisite power for making his task a pleasure. A glance at the table of contents of each succeeding book in the series and a recognition of the method employed will show that the editors have been no less mindful of the requirements of succeeding books than they have been of the First Book. No fads or theories have been allowed to stand in the way of methods, proved by practice to be pedagogically sound, and it is believed that if teachers will give Graded Literature Readers a trial they will be more than pleased with the progress of their pupils. AN EXPERT'S ESTIMATE OF JUDSON & BENDER'S GRADED LITERATURE READERS, FIRST BOOK |