TO THE STUDENT
We hope that you will enjoy our new series of Graded German Readers. Experience shows that the reading of a page of text which introduces new words and idioms in easily assimilated amounts is a pleasure, while a page containing from 25 to 50 unfamiliar words and idioms makes hard and painful reading and is moreover ineffective from the standpoint of language-learning. Or, to express it more concretely, reading a book in which new elements abound on every page is comparable to clambering up a steep mountain side, while the reading of carefully graded material can be likened to a stroll up a gentle slope, not requiring undue effort or strain.
This first booklet uses only 500 common words, 100 or more of which are full or partial cognates, such as Arm, Sand, Sommer, Amerika; moreover, it uses 30 idioms which are explained in footnotes on their first occurrence. The meaning of each word is given either in a footnote or in the word list on pages 50 ff. Thus you conveniently find explanations when and where you need them.
It is advisable to do carefully the "Exercises" (cf. pp. 39 ff.), which will give you further practice in the recognition of the words and idioms used. The comprehension tests headed "check the correct statements" will show you whether or not you have thoroughly understood the text. (...)

Peter Hagboldt