Hornbook

1607

The hornbook was a sheet of paper that was typically mounted on a piece of wood and then covered with a transparent horn for protection. The hornbook included the alphabet, a phonics lesson, and the Lord’s Prayer. The hornbook first became used around 1450 in the homes of the wealthy. Around 1607, the hornbook began to be used in the schools. Each school would have only one or two hornbooks for the children to share. For centuries, the hornbook was used as a child’s introduction to reading.