Key Words Reading Scheme facts for kids
The Key Words Reading Scheme is a series of 36 English language early readers children's books, published by the British publishing company, Ladybird Books. The series are also often referred to as Peter and Jane, the names of the main characters.
Current edition, with cover styling updated in 2004 and the more contemporary late 1970s underlying artwork
List of books
- 1a: Play with us
- 1b: Look at this
- 1c: Read and write
- 2a: We have fun
- 2b: Have a go
- 2c: I like to write
- 3a: Things we like
- 3b: Boys and girls
- 3c: Let me write
- 4a: Things we do
- 4b: Fun at the farm
- 4c: Say the sound
- 5a: Where we go
- 5b: Out in the sun
- 5c: More sounds to say
- 6a: Our friends
- 6b: We like to help
- 6c: Reading with sounds
- 7a: Happy holiday
- 7b: Fun and games
- 7c: Easy to sound
- 8a: Sunny days
- 8b: The big house
- 8c: Fun with sounds
- 9a: Games we like
- 9b: Jump from the sky
- 9c: Enjoying reading
- 10a: Adventure on the island
- 10b: Adventure at the castle
- 10c: Learning is fun
- 11a: Mystery on the island
- 11b: The carnival
- 11c: Books are exciting
- 12a: The holiday camp mystery
- 12b: Mountain adventure
- 12c: The open door to reading
Updates
Few changes have been made to the books since the 1970s, and they may be considered a source of social history. The books make use of the whole word or "look and say" technique which is generally considered outmoded as a method of reading education when not used in conjunction with phonics. Nevertheless, the books remain on sale in 2013, priced relatively cheaply at around £2.99 per book.
Worldwide sales
In some Asian countries, particularly those which are also part of the British Commonwealth, the books are still widely used as a teaching aid in nurseries, preschools and kindergartens.
