McGuffey's "Readers" helped almost an entire country become literate over the course of an entire century. Its appeal spawned numerous editions and revisions, making it a popular choice for teaching reading, even today. Like John Cotton in his "New England Primer" (ISBN: 9781947844346), McGuffey incorporated the Bible and his faith into the content of "Readers." Unfortunately, by around 1879, almost all of the content about God and Christ was stripped out. Many of the versions available today are based on these later ones. This 'First Eclectic' edition, however, is a facsimile of the Wilson, Hinkle & CO 1863 edition, which while revised and updated, still makes reference to God. For those interested in teaching reading from time-tested methods and are not shy about their values, this edition will do. The 'First Eclectic' followed his 'Primer' (ISBN: 9781947844841) and was for children who had already established very basic reading skills.