Look! See Dick. See Jane.

Joan Janzen spotted these vintage Dick and Jane readers at a museum, sparking memories of learning to read alongside Spot, Puff, Sally, Mother and Father. Their clipped, "Run Spot run!" cadence sounded nothing like real conversation, and no farm kid ever called their parents Mother and Father, especially not parents in plaid shirts, jeans and work boots. Still, the books did the job. A generation learned to read.

PHOTO BY JOAN JANZEN