Yesterday's Classics offers books that have stood the test of time. These classics have lasted because they appeal on many different levels. They are full of ideas to ponder, often expressed in exquisite language, frequently with ethical issues to consider. With more to discover at each reading, they are appreciated at all ages, by both parents and children.

Yesterday's Classics provides a boost to children’s language acquisition with books rich in advanced vocabulary and increasingly complex syntactic construction, capitalizing on the phenomenal capacity for language acquisition that children are born with. For more about how children delight in unfamiliar words and phrases, see our blog post Reading Beyond The Tale of Peter Rabbit.

Yesterday's Classics publishes a good number of books with no illustrations whatsoever. Consider these unillustrated titles an opportunity for children to exercise their imaginations, to turn words into pictures in their own minds, and perhaps even to create illustrations themselves. In the books that are illustrated, pay attention to the various styles artists of a century ago employed: careful pen and ink drawings (Howard Pyle), elaborate color creations (Walter Crane), quick sketches (Lucy Fitch Perkins), soft watercolors (Beatrix Potter), and vibrant productions (Arthur Rackham).

Yesterday's Classics makes it easy to introduce your children to a variety of genres, beyond the usual categories of picture books and fiction, in order to awaken their curiosity and give them an opportunity to discover new interests and new ways of expression. Learn how to spread a broad feast for your children by reading our blog post Beginning To Spread a Broad Feast. 

Yesterday's Classics provides many resources for introducing historical figures to your children through short anecdotes of their daring adventures, vividly told. "It is a great thing to possess a pageant of history in the background of one's thoughts." says Charlotte Mason.. Using brief accounts of historical characters that appeal to the child's imagination and love of adventure typically excites interest in further historical inquiry. Our blog post First Steps in History suggests a way to begin. 

Yesterday's Classics offers many books in a variety of genres that sharpen the moral sensibilities of their readers. In history and biography, hero tales and fiction they encounter many stories where characters are being tested, considering their course of action under trying circumstances. Readers become vicarious participants in the drama, dismayed at the failures of the hero and cheered by their successes. Their conscience is molded by repeated encounters of this sort. For more about the use of books in fostering growth in virtue, consult Books That Build Character.