[The Mary Frances Books]
For Teaching Useful Things in an Entertaining Way
By Jane Eayre Fryer
| These are not mere story books to be read through and cast aside. They are instruction books in story form which the youthful readers joyfully study because they think it is play. But in this play they learn principles of usefulness which fascinate because of the manner in which these principles are presented. |
THE MARY FRANCES GARDEN BOOK, or Adventures Among the Garden People. The spirit of comradeship and of loving understanding of little men and women thoroughly permeates this unique garden book. The enchantment of the story of Mary Frances’ gardens successfully carries the play-lesson idea, as the most potent method of creating a love for work and learning, into a realm undreamed of before. The little reader’s delight is heightened by cut-out gardens which are inserted in the book. These cut-out gardens are beautifully colored to show the natural color of the flowers, insects, etc. They include a playhouse, April and May garden, June and July garden, August and September garden, vegetable garden, etc., and will not only familiarize the child with the plants and their seasons of bloom, but also inspire a love for practical outdoor gardening. The world was begun in a garden, and the story of reproduction is given in a most reserved and skilful manner as the great plan for the perpetuation of life. Size 7¼ x 9½ inches. Illustrations on every page, with colored cut-out gardens. Cloth, with colored inlay on front.
Net $1.50
THE MARY FRANCES HOUSEKEEPER, or Adventures Among the Doll People. A glimpse into this book is enough to make a girl’s heart leap. Here she finds not only the story of the Paper Doll Family of Sandpile Village, and how they acquired a home, but also the paper dolls themselves—thirty-six large sheets of dolls and of the new, patented kind of cut-out furniture. The practical explanation of household duties and management are woven in so skilfully that as the story tells how Mary Frances learned to dust, to sweep, or make beds, the little reader takes it all in eagerly as part of the story. 250 pages. 7¼ x 9½ inches. Illustrations on every page. Cloth, with colored inlay on front.
Net $1.50
THE MARY FRANCES SEWING BOOK, or Adventures Among the Thimble People. It tells, in as quaint and delightful a story as ever appealed to a child’s imagination, how the fairy “Thimble People” teach Mary Frances to sew. It teaches the reader how to sew—how to make every variety of garment—how to make the various stitches—how to use patterns—how to fold and cut the material—how to piece it together. The book includes a complete set of patterns for doll clothes—undergarments—street clothes—coats—hats—even a wedding dress. 300 colored illustrations. 320 pages. 7¼ x 9½ inches. Cloth, with colored inlay on front.
Net $1.50