It just occurred to me that these books wouldn't turn up on your typical PBS search, but some PBSer might be interested.

Looking Forward was published by the John C. Winston Company in 1956, part of the Easy Growth in Reading series. Five stars on the spine would seem to indicate Level 5. School discard, sewn  binding. 

Shining Hours was published by the Bobbs-Merrill Company, Inc. in 1964.  It is part of the Best of Children's Literature series.  Four stars on the spine would indicate Level 4.  No school markings, sewn binding.

Both of these books are on my bookshelf, and there is more information on the books in their individual listings. 

Thanks for looking,

Sheila U.

What a great bookshelf.  Very tempting. :-)  If you have the time, you might want to look up the individual stories online and see if any of them are reproductions of out of print titles.  I've found that to be the case in several of the old "readers" I've collected.