The Big Book for Before We Read — New Basic Readers, Scott Foresman, 1950s View Watchlist >
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Lot # I131
System ID # 24018748
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The Big Book for Before We Read — New Basic Readers, Scott Foresman, 1950s
Presented here is The Big Book for Before We Read, an oversized classroom edition from The New Basic Readers series, published by Scott, Foresman and Company in the early 1950s. This set includes Cards 1–12, each measuring a generous 20.25 x 26.5 inches. Designed as a teacher’s aid, these vivid illustrations enlarged the pages of the pre-primer Before We Read—the first volume in the famous Dick and Jane reading curriculum.
Created under the direction of William S. Gray, with contributions by A. Sterl Artley, Marion Monroe, Helen Mansfield Robinson, Gordon Johnson, and May Hill Arbuthnot, the New Basic Readers were foundational to mid-century American education. They introduced literacy through the “look-and-say” method, emphasizing recognition of words and storytelling supported by colorful, engaging imagery. The Big Book format was especially valuable in group settings, allowing children to follow along before they could read independently.
Before We Read is historically significant as the entry point to the curriculum that included We Look and See, We Come and Go, and the iconic Fun With Dick and Jane. These materials shaped reading instruction for generations and today hold nostalgic appeal, reflecting the values and everyday scenes of postwar American childhood.
Condition:
Good overall, with toning and light classroom use visible. No rips or tears. The illustrations remain clean and bright, showing only gentle handling consistent with age.
Dimensions:
20.25 x 26.5 inches
