Key Words Reading Scheme facts for kids

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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.

Peter and Jane Book 1a Play with Us.
Original 1964 front cover, illustrated by Harry Wingfield

Peter and Jane Book 1a Play with Us, ISBN: 1-84422-360-4.
Current edition, with cover styling updated in 2004 and the more contemporary late 1970s underlying artwork

List of books

1. 1a: Play with us
2. 1b: Look at this
3. 1c: Read and write
4. 2a: We have fun
5. 2b: Have a go
6. 2c: I like to write
7. 3a: Things we like
8. 3b: Boys and girls
9. 3c: Let me write
10. 4a: Things we do
11. 4b: Fun at the farm
12. 4c: Say the sound
13. 5a: Where we go
14. 5b: Out in the sun
15. 5c: More sounds to say
16. 6a: Our friends
17. 6b: We like to help
18. 6c: Reading with sounds
19. 7a: Happy holiday
20. 7b: Fun and games
21. 7c: Easy to sound
22. 8a: Sunny days
23. 8b: The big house
24. 8c: Fun with sounds
25. 9a: Games we like
26. 9b: Jump from the sky
27. 9c: Enjoying reading
28. 10a: Adventure on the island
29. 10b: Adventure at the castle
30. 10c: Learning is fun
31. 11a: Mystery on the island
32. 11b: The carnival
33. 11c: Books are exciting
34. 12a: The holiday camp mystery
35. 12b: Mountain adventure
36. 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.