Basal readers are "reading textbooks prepared for separate grade levels that, when adopted, constitute the basic tool (system) for the teaching of reading. [...] These readers are developmental and are carefully controlled with respect to presentation of skill learnings, vocabulary, content, and sentence structure. The representative series included a pre-primer, a primer, and approximately six graded readers."

• "Basal Readers." American educators' encyclopedia. Ed. Dejnozka, Edward L., and David E. Kapel. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1982. Print.

In the Al Harris Library, basal readers can be found by browsing the elementary education section of the Curriculum Collection. The Curriculum Collection is on the 2nd floor in the southwest corner.