The fine art of hand-binding books, repairing old volumes, and taking proper care of bound works in a home or public library... More > is a skill that has been all but forgotten in these high speed, hi-tech, computer driven days. But for all of us who still love the smell of the printed paper page, the feel of a cloth or leather cover lying open in our hands, and the comforting certainty that all our treasured tomes will remain forever available for our reading pleasure - even when the power fails! - this ancient and important art is one we can ill afford to leave to others to preserve. Douglas Cockerell's classic BOOKBINDING AND THE CARE OF BOOKS: A HANDBOOK FOR AMATEURS, BOOKBINDERS AND LIBRARIANS (original publication date 1910) provides a thoroughly explored and profusely illustrated single-volume course in Old World-style hand bookbinding and repair, written in accessible language aimed directly at the lay-craftsperson. A "must-have" volume for true bibliophiles everywhere! < Less

"The most successful farmers of the present day are those who work in harmony with the forces and laws of nature ..." With... More > this simple yet profoundly prescient opening line, Charles L. Goodrich sets the wise, practical and eminently earth-friendly tone that informs every page of The Better Days Books First Book of Farming: A Step-By-Step Guide for the Origiganic Grower. Originally published in 1905, this timeless primer for the aspiring farmer (or backyard or market gardener!) "begins at the beginning," exploring the hidden secrets of how plants grow and what they need to flourish. It then takes the reader on a step-by-step journey through the worlds of roots, seed, soil and water, then on into the fundamental "orgiganic" methods by which bountiful harvests can reaped without recourse to poisonous chemical fertilizers or insecticides. Includes chapters on restoring and maintaining soil fertility, fixing drainage problems, and strategies for successful crop rotation. < Less

Originally published in 1910, Alfred Rochefort's HEALTHFUL SPORTS FOR BOYS is an optimistic "Can Do!" prescription for the... More > kind of vigorous, competitive, yet thoroughly wholesome boyhood that for more than two centuries has reliably bred great American men of character, courage and good common sense. In our 21st Century, "post-modern" era of video games, virtual reality and "couch potato kids," Rochefort's vision of active boys creating fun with their own minds and muscles is a reminder of everything great about boys and about America, and a Clarion Call to a new generation to "get up and get great!" -- Before it's too late! < Less

Our American Holidays: Their Meaning and Spirit was originally published in 1906, and is at once a heartwarming reminiscence... More > on the Victorian Era in America and a reminder of the inspiration and delight our most beloved Traditional holidays – Christmas, Thanksgiving Day, Easter, Halloween – as well as the national identity and pride our uniquely American holidays – Independence Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington – can still hold for us today. Compiled from the pages of St. Nicholas Magazine, a popular turn of the Century publication for youth ages five to eighteen, Our American Holidays: Their Meaning and Spirit is an ideal resource for reclaiming the original, uncommercialized significance and character of every American holiday for ourselves, and for sharing that vision, inspiration and delight with the children we love. < Less

Written in simple, easy to understand language, and illustrated with more than 300 detailed drawings, J. S. Zerbe's 1914... More > classic Carpentry for Boys remains to this day the single most comprehensive volume ever published for boys on the subject of good, old fashioned hand tool woodworking. With chapters on tools and their uses, how to grind and sharpen tools, laying out work, using the compass and the square, making joints, building roof trusses, the best woods for beginners, wood turning (complete with instructions for building your own simple turning lathe!), the proper use of stains and much, much more, Carpentry for Boys is an invaluable resource for budding carpenters of every age. While written for boys, adults just getting started in the "King of Trades" are sure to find approachable, yet genuinely useful instruction in these pages as well. Includes a glossary of nearly 200 woodworking terms. < Less

Is your food budget out of control? The Better Days Books Frugal Food Bible can help, offering four timeless 19th and early... More > 20th Century frugal food classics bound together in one practical, enlightening and entertaining omnibus collection: The American Frugal Housewife, by Lydia M. Child (1832), Foods That Will Win The War And How To Cook Them by C. Houston Goudiss (1918), Home Vegetable Gardening: A Complete And Practical Guide To The Planting And Care Of All Vegetables, Fruits And Berries Worth Growing For Home Use, by F. F. Rockwell (1911) and Cassell's Vegetarian Cookery: A Manual Of Cheap And Wholesome Diet, by A.G. Payne (1891). With over 400 pages of frugal food recipes, household hints, money saving tips, backyard gardening guidance and more, The Better Days Books Frugal Food Bible is a gift of practical wisdom from the past that no modern family can afford to be without during the hard economic times ahead. < Less

Originally published in 1910 as a manual for teachers of woodwork, William Noyes' HANDWORK IN WOOD to this day ranks among... More > the all time best, most complete and practical primers on the tools and techniques of good, old fashioned "no electricity needed" hand tool carpentry. Whether you are headed "off the grid" or just off to the garage, with over 300 photographs and illustrations, HANDWORK IN WOOD is the only book the modern handyman with a taste for Old World craftsmanship and style will ever need. < Less

Beginning with the Yuletide festivals of the ancient world, The Celebration of Christmas In Europe and America: Yuletide... More > Traditions From Many Lands shares a history of Christmas across Europe, exploring the Holiday customs of England, Germany (true source of the Christmas Tree!), Scandinavia (Lapland, Holland, Denmark), France, Italy, Russia and Spain. The chapter on Yule in Russia is especially poignant, as its writing predates the Bolshevik Revolution, offering a unique glimpse into that country's pre-Communist Christian roots. The final chapter is a surprising history of Christmas in Colonial America. First published in 1916, and reproduced in this quality reprint edition with all of the charming original illustrations intact, The Celebration of Christmas In Europe and America: Yuletide Traditions From Many Lands opens a wondrous window on the magic and beauty of the Christmas Season as it was understood and observed during the Victorian era. < Less

Nearly 60% of the earth's land surface receives twenty inches or less of annual rainfall– a parched percentage predicted... More > to dramatically increase as global warming takes its toll on our environment. John Widtsoe's classic DRY-FARMING: A Complete System for Achieving Bountiful Harvests Where Rain is Scarce, and Without Irrigation shares scientifically proven, time-tested – and almost forgotten in our era – late 19th and early 20th Century methods for growing more and better crops using far less water. The key lies in smart soil, seed and plant management, following the100% chemical free, Earth friendly, "origiganic" Dry-Farming techniques outlined in this book. From the backyard garden to the hundred acre farm, whether you already reside in an arid region, or just want to prepare for looming climate change, DRY-FARMING: A Complete System for Achieving Bountiful Harvests Where Rain is Scarce, and Without Irrigation is an indispensable addition to your homestead library. < Less

A Better Days Books Home School Classic!Phonics is not a method of teaching reading, but it is a necessary part of every... More > good, modern method. It is the key to word mastery, and word mastery is one of the first essentials in learning to read. A knowledge of the sounds of letters, and of the effect of the position of the letter upon its sound, is an essential means of mastering the mechanics of reading, and of enabling children to become independent readers.
A knowledge of phonics not only gives power to pronounce new words, but it trains the ear, develops clear articulation and correct enunciation, and aids in spelling. Later, when diacritical marks are introduced, it aids in the use of the dictionary. The habit of attacking and pronouncing words of entirely new form, develops self-confidence in the child, and the pleasure he experiences in mastering difficulties without help, constantly leads to new effort.
-- From The Author’s Forward < Less