The subject matter of this paper is to offer detailed comparison with respect to grammar teaching and vocabulary acquisition of two ESL coursebooks used in primary schools: Tom Hutchinson’s Project 1. and H.Q. Mitchell’s Get to the Top 1. Accordingly, my work involves two major sections, and the analysis was carried out with the help of checklists closely related to the discussed areas. Through a systematic investigation I have revealed the similarities and distinctive features of the two coursebooks. Although this is not an overall evaluation, the underlying difference can be clearly discovered with studying the two most controversial fields of language teaching, grammar and vocabulary. Owing to the different theoretical considerations the coursebook writers followed, Project 1 is more grammar-focused, whereas Mitchell tends to offer a more balanced syllabus in terms of grammar and vocabulary. Undoubtedly, more attention to word knowledge fosters more productive communication, but inaccurate grammatical structures can hinder meaning. As a final point, neither book can be claimed as good or bad on its own. However, because today’s requirement in foreign language teaching and learning favours the idea of communicative competence, a coursebook like Get to the Top 1 is more likely to be preferred.