To commemorate the 160th anniversary of the birth of Antanas Kriščiukaitis Aišbe (1864-1933), writer, lawyer, professor at the University of Lithuania, we present a Lithuanian elementary from the collections of the Lithuanian Museum of Education – “Naujas elementorius. A new elementary for children”. It is one of the most famous first Lithuanian educational tools. A. Kriščiukaitis Aišbe’s “Naujas elementorius. A gift for children” was the winner of the competition of Lithuanian elementaries published in the newspaper “Varpas” at the end of the 19th century! The elementary is written using the method of reading and writing by synthesis of sounds. It is a richly illustrated book with secular content. And the song “Du gaideliai” (Two Roosters), which is presented in the book, still rings in the ears of young and old alike today. The cover and the drawings were created by the artist Pranciškus Žitkus (Žitkevičius, 1869-1917). The booklet “New Elementary. A gift for children” was published in Tilžė by the book carrier, editor and publisher Petras Mikolainis (1868-1934).
Information prepared by Gabija Mackevičiūtė, curator of the collection of the Lithuanian Museum of Education
