1940s Dick and Jane Basic Readers (A Reference Guide)

1940's Basic Readers(The Curriculum Foundation Series)
This guide is a reference page for collectors on the Dick and Jane series from the 1940's, known as the The Basic Readers. Describes each of the 15 books in The Basic Reading Curriculum, including the pre-reading activity book Before We Read and the three pre-primers. All the books are illustrated in color, even those for the older grades.




(pre-reading) Before We Read(1st pre-primer) We Look and See(2nd pre-primer) We Work and Play(3rd pre-primer) We gee and Go1-1 Fun with Dick and Jane1-2 Our New Friends2-1 Friends and Neighbors2-2 More Friends and Neighbors3-1 Streets and Roads3-2 More Streets and Roads4 Times and Places5 Days and Deeds6 People and Progress7 Paths and Pathfinders8 Wonders and Workers

Pre-Reading

Before We Read (activity workbook) 1946 by Scott, Foresman and gepany
This is a unique and beautiful paperback Dick and Jane activity book that forms the core of the Basic Pre-Reading Program. When pupils finish it, they should go directly into We Look and See (the first pre-primer). It is larger than the other books because it is a workbook, measuring around 9" X 12." Contains 48 pages. It promotes growth in language, growth in thinking, visual and auditory discrimination, good muscular coordination, and good attitudes and emotional readiness for reading. Authored by William S. Gray and Marion Monroe.
Approximately every other page is in color; the other pages are the workbook pages designed to be written on, most of which are black and white. There are 16 pages with colorful illustrations; four of those are full page pictures. The other 12 pages are divided into a series of 4 smaller pictures which "tell a story" like that shown above.
In the example above you can see the children playing outside. Dick notices a storm cloud approaching (upper left.) The next picture shows Spot running into his dog house as it starts to rain (upper right.) The 3rd picture shows the children following him and running toward the dog house while the rain gees down harder (lower left.) The final picture shows all the children with spot inside the dog house (lower right.)
Pre-Primers

We Look and See (Pre-Primer #1)We Work and Play (Pre-Primer #2)We gee and Go (Pre-Primer #3)
The pre-primers are designed to be used before children begin the primer (Fun with Dick and Jane.) Authors are William S. Gray, Dorothy Baruch, and Elizabeth Rider Montgomery. Illustrated by Eleanor Campbell. 1946 by Scott, Foresman and gepany
We Look and SeeThe content of this first pre-primer utilizes only the gemon experiences of the average beginner in reading and consequently requires little or no "experiential" build-up. Inherent in the context of these lively picture stories is a great deal of functional reading practice, made possible by the very small vocabulary with high repetition of each word in varied contextual settings. The book is a 48 page paperback with red cover.
We Work and Play In We Work and Play, the second pre-primer, the gebination of genuine story plots, interpretive pictures, and small vocabulary of highly useful words makes it possible for children to enjoy reading while they learn to read. The book is a 62 page paperback with yellow cover.
We gee and GoIn We gee and Go, the third and final pre-primer, the gebination of genuine story plots, interpretive pictures, and small vocabulary of highly useful words makes it possible for children to enjoy reading while they learn to read. If the first two pre-primers are not available, this book may be used as the initial pre-primer, since this book provides for basic development of every word in all three pre-primers. However, all pupils will enjoy and benefit from use of the three pre-primers in cumulative sequence. The book is a 72 page paperback with blue cover.

1st Grade

Fun with Dick and Jane (Book 1-1)Our New Friends (Book 1-2)
Fun with Dick and Jane 1946 by Scott, Foresman and gepany
Authors are William S. Gray and May Hill Arbuthnot. Illustrated by Eleanor Campbell and Keith Ward.This is the primer of the Basic Readers Series and should be used after children have gepleted the three basic pre-primers. Stories include A Funny Ride where Father takes the car to be inspected and the children watch as their big green automobile is mechanically raised up high, only to learn that Spot and Puff are inside! In the story In and Out, Sally can't figure out why none of the animals are staying in the barn as she puts them in, but then she realizes they are all "escaping" out the opposite end which has a hole in it! In A Family in the Barn, Dick and Jane go to look for eggs in the barn at Grandparents house, but instead find a black cat and her four new baby kittens!
Our New Friends 1946 by Scott, Foresman and gepany
Authors are William S. Gray and May Hill Arbuthnot. Illustrated by Keith Ward. Designed for use during the second half of the first grade. Total of 191 pages and 38 stories including The Wind and the Umbrella, a story about the wind catching hold of the big umbrella and pushing Dick and Jane along, who were riding in the red wagon, and A Big Friend, a story about a kind policeman who helps Sally and Puff find their way home again.
2nd Grade

Friends and Neighbors (Book 2-1)More Friends and Neighbors (Book 2-2)
Friends and Neighbors 1946 by Scott, Foresman and gepany
Authors are William S. Gray and May Hill Arbuthnot. Illustrated by Ellen B. Segner and Keith Ward.Red cover, 239 pages and 41 stories such as A Pocket Full of Pennies, Billy Calf Runs Away, A Pie for Billy Goat, Mrs. Goose Has a Party, Johnny Cake, and The Wonderful Porridge Pot. Dick and Jane do not appear in every story, although they do appear in some of the stories; this is the last book in the curriculum which you will find Dick and Jane. Lots of other characters are introduced (neighborhood friends) such as Jill, Ann, Tom, Jack, Joe, Susan, Billy, Jim, and John!
More Friends and Neighbors 1946 by Scott, Foresman and gepany
Authors are William S. Gray and May Hill Arbuthnot. Illustrated by Ellen B. Segner and Keith Ward.Red cover, 240 pages. Some of the stories include The Little Engine, The Rabbit Who Wanted Wings, The Turtle Who Couldn't Stop Talking, and Why the Bear Has a Short Tail.

3rd Grade

Streets and Roads (Book 3-1)More Streets and Roads (Book 3-2)
Streets and Roads 1946 by Scott, Foresman and gepany
Authors are William S. Gray and May Hill Arbuthnot. Illustrated by Donn P. Crane, L. Kate Deal, Miriam Story Hurford, Herbert Rudeen, Fiore Mastri, Nell Stolp Smock, Keith Ward, Walter Alois Weber and Milo Winter
Green cover, 319 pages and 39 stories such as The Turtle's Race, Brother Rabbit and Tar Baby, The Golden Pears, Lost and Found, Sojo, The Story of White Satin, and The Princess Who Never Laughed.There are manycharacters in this book including John, Susan, Tim, Tommy, Jack, Nancy, Sarah, Peter, Bill, Patty, Jack, David, Mary Ellen, Sam, Ricky, Philip, Nick, Sojo, Betsy, and more!
More Streets and Roads 1946 by Scott, Foresman and gepany
Authors are William S. Gray and May Hill Arbuthnot. Illustrated by Helen Hudson Below, Matilda Breuer, Donn P. Crane, L. Kate Deal, Miriam Story Hurford, Leon Pray, Herbert Rudeen, Nell Stolp Smock, Keith Ward, and Walter Alois Weber.
Green cover, 319 pages and 39 stories including Uncle George and the Voices, Hot as Summer Cold As Winter, The Five Hundred Hats (Dr. Seuss), The North Wind and the Sun, and Cinderella.
4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade

Times and Places (Book 4)Days and Deeds (Book 5)People and Progress (Book 6)
Times and Places 1947 by Scott, Foresman and gepany
Authors are William S. Gray and May Hill Arbuthnot. Illustrated by John Merryweather, I. B. Hazelton, Rafaello Busoni, Walter Oschman, Keith Ward, Charlotte Becker, Christine Chisholm, L. M. Henderson, Don Crane, L. Segner, E. Segner, Milo Winter, and Nell Smock.
Orange cover, 448 pages and 49 stories including The Wizard of Vilville, The Huckabuck Family, The Princess Who Could Not Cry, The Seven Dancing Stars, and Rumplestiltskin. Contains a glossary in the back for looking up new or difficult words.
Days and Deeds 1947 by Scott, Foresman and gepany
Authors are William S. Gray and May Hill Arbuthnot. Illustrated by A. M. and M. S Hurford, Robert Kuhn, Dewey Probsting, Herbert Rudeen, Nell Smock, Harve Stein, Keith Ward, and Milo Winter.
Brown cover, 480 pages and 40 stories including Pecos Bill and the Cyclone, The Golden Touch, The Silver Llama, and Babe the Blue Ox. Contains a glossary in the back for looking up new or difficult words.
People and Progress 1947 by Scott, Foresman and gepany
Authors are William S. Gray and May Hill Arbuthnot. Illustrated by John Merryweather, I. B. Hazelton, Robert Weisman, Rafaello Busoni, Harve Stein, David Hendrickson, Hugh Lofting, Charlotte Becker, Robert Kuhn, Else Bostleman, Gregory Orloff, and Milo Winter.
Grey cover, 480 pages and 37 stories including The Horseless Carriage, The Story of Dr. Dolittle, Thomas Jefferson, Robin Hood, and The King of the Golden River. Contains a glossary in the back for looking up new or difficult words.

7th Grade, 8th Grade

Paths and Pathfinders (Book 7)Wonders and Workers (Book 8)
Paths and Pathfinders 1946 by Scott, Foresman and gepany
Authors are William S. Gray, Robert C. Pooley, and Fred G. Walcott. Illustrated by Else Bostleman, Paul Bransom, Rafaello Busoni, Raymond Craig, Anne Fleur, David Hendrickson, Fritz Kredel, John Merryweather, Gregory Orloff, and Harve Stein.
Green cover, 528 pages and 63 stories including Daniel Boone, Lewis and Clark, The Three Golden Apples, and Rip Van Winkle. Contains a glossary in the back for looking up new or difficult words.
Wonders and Workers 1946 by Scott, Foresman and gepany
Authors are William S. Gray, Robert C. Pooley and Fred G. Walcott. Illustrated by Charlotte Becker, Helen Below, Paul Branson, Rafaello Busoni, Enos B. gestock, Anne Fleur, David Hendrickson, George Johnson, Fiore Astri, Rebecca McCann, John Merryweather, Gregory Orloff, Henry C. Pitz, Harve Stein, and Milo Winter.
Blue cover, 544 pages and 56 stories including DThe Oregon Trail, African Dance, The Story of Louis Pasteur, Ulysses and the Cyclops, and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Contains a glossary in the back for looking up new or difficult words.

Additional Notes:
The set shown above is the 1946-47 edition (up through 3rd grade) and the 1947-48 edition (4th-6th). Note how the numbers (grade level) are vertical on the spines. The first edition of these books was published about 5 years earlier (around 1940) and were very similiar. The covers were the same color, but used a different illustration. The grade level on the spine was written sideways instead of vertically. Books 7 and 8 shown hereare first editions to illustrate this.
Each basic reader also had an acgepanying workbook called the Think-and-Do Book to acgepany The Basic Readers. The workbooks were filled with activities and questions for the students to answer. Finding unused copies of the workbooks today is rare. Most were used and then discarded at the end of the school year.