In the upper grades of the elementary school the purpose of the work in reading is not merely to furnish an opportunity for drill in oral expression; it should also have as a distinct aim the development of interest in good literature and should expose the child to samples of many types of English prose and verse. While in some systems it is considered preferable to emphasize in the reading period the careful study of certain selected classics, in the judgment of the editors of this series it is highly desirable that students be given an opportunity to come in contact with a more extended group of selections than is possible without the use of a school reader. This textbook is a seventh reader containing works by authors such as Henry Van Dyke, Hellen Keller, and Walter A. Dyer. The editors note that many of these selections should stimulate the child's desire to read. [Cover title varies: "Chadsey & Spain Readers. Seventh Reader."]