Rain was a popular subject for primary school children learning to read in the early 1900’s. I am basing this assumption on these stories from the Ontario Readers Primer, authorized by THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION (that part was important enough in the book to print in all caps bold) published in 1920.
How lucky am I to possess books that are almost a hundred years old? Even if the stories are blatantly sexist. Wimpy little girl afraid of the rain vs. bold adventurous little boy having fun.
In this case the smart males all seek shelter and the silly female goose doesn’t. Girls just can’t win.
Isn’t that delightful? The pages are well-read, faded and stained, the cover is worn and falling apart and the binding disintegrating and barely holding everything together. It’s one of the things my mother felt was worth saving, and it is one of my treasures.
Breathing Space 
It is a delight, and thanks for posting!
Karen
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I’m so happy you enjoyed it😊❤️
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Oh, how I love those old books. It’s kind of innocent and sweet, and certainly no worse than the Dick and Jane books I remember. ☺
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We had to read Tom Betty and Susan books – same stories with different names. I couldn’t wait to get through them! “Run, Tom, run” just wasn’t deep and meaningful enough. lol. And they had a dog named Flip. Seriously, who does that. Makes the rain poetry look brilliant.
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This truly is a treasure. When I started first grade in 1938, we were still using books like this from the 1920s.
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I remember mom letting us read these when we were little and learning to read in the fifties and finding them fun. I guess they are timeless in a way. Fun to look back at, anyway. 😊
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Wonderful treasures! (except for the awful sexist teachings – I sometimes wonder if we’ve made any real progress at all. Sigh)
Alison
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Reading those I was wondering exactly the same thing. 😳
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You are luck.
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I was an early childhood teacher (grades pre-K through grade 2) in the 70s and the primers and early readers may have been updated a teeny weeny, but the themes were the same. Of course, the school system was still using very old books then, too. What excitement when someone on the block got the first TV! (and kids read about that in 1976 and were supposed to relate!).
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Oh my, that’s funny. Our rural school was all farm kids, reading about city kids visiting a farm…that’s when I knew the stories were completely made up. A skeptic at the age of 6. lol
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I love the old readers with the sketches in them. I learned to read from those readers. I never noticed the sexism in them; probably due to the fact it was normal during that period.
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Oh for sure, it was completely taken for granted. I never noticed it then either. Not sure how far we’ve come but at least we’re making progress.
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So special. Thanks. You have the best show and tell.
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When I was in school we didn’t have show and tell. I guess I am making up for that now. 😄
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I love the illustrations from children’s books of that era. In a minor way I’ve collected books (mostly new, reprinted editions) with those illustrations for years. But yes, sexist stories…
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Yes, the illustrations are great. Love looking at old postcards too.
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Those are treasures. When I taught first grade in a small rural school, I found and used similar vintage readers for the children who found the modern readers difficult. It actually helped some of them. Not everything new is good for everyone.
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I agree. When I first learned how to read I preferred the books we had at home. And enjoyed comic books over anything else. 😊
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