The American Education Press was affiliated with a booklet series for public education in the classrooms. We can still find some of these if you look around for "Little Wonder Book Series" from the mid 1940's.
This particular Little Wonder Book has a story, they call it a story in the booklet, as opposed to a science or natural history. Corn: A Cinderella Story. It tells us that this is the story of the little grain that built several great nations in a rags to riches tale. The story of a weed that became the most important grain. Thousands and thousands of years ago in Latin America the plant was just a very tough grass which produced seeds.
The booklet is quite interesting to browse, for tidbits of information you may not have learned in your own era of schooling. Also interesting to look at what was taught 80 years ago, and what isn't taught now. Many interesting details can be gleaned from the vintage school publication. You can view more images of the booklet here and even read the Cinderella corn story.
