This topical bibliography and commentary discusses resource aids that help educators evaluate and select high quality reading materials for young adults. It discusses general resource articles as aids. Examples are: specific themes, booklists, and school system aids. It concludes that there are no succinct lists of criteria or resources; rather,…

When children are taught to read, the sources used are usually fictional narratives; writing follows in the same genre with children learning how to write personal narrative. Narrative has been such a part of the tradition in primary grades that even the information books that are available for the young are often written in a narrative structure.…

The purpose of this Digest is to explore how heroes and heroines in children's literature from around the world help young learners understand and appreciate different cultures. It considers how protagonists can serve as role models for children; discusses how it is possible to obtain insights into universal and culturally specific values and…

Explores what is known about magazine reading habits and interests in the United States and reviews sources in the ERIC database that discuss classroom uses of magazines. Source lists for children's magazines are also included. (HTH)

This Digest provides an overview of children's online magazines, also known as e-zines. It begins with a brief review of factors that contribute to the popularity of these publications, followed by a list of criteria for selecting high-quality online magazines for children. Samples of high-quality children's e-zines are also included in this…

Clarifies the goal of reading instruction in the middle school and draws on the ERIC database for sources that complete the transition from learning to read to reading to learn. Reports on the suggested emphasis on reading laboratories and the fostering of reading of expository texts. (JK)

This digest deals with bibliotherapy, the practice of healing through books. The digest discusses whether bibliotherapy works, when it should be used, who should conduct it, and how it should be used. The digest concludes with five guidelines for conducting bibliotherapy. (RS)

The importance of reading in curriculum for gifted students is emphasized in the digest which also examines reading curriculum strategies. Highly able readers are seen to have needs for specific assistance in developing more complex skills in choosing books and materials for particular purposes, and in applying learning to real-life problems.…

Suggests that adolescent literature should be credited with more substance and usefulness for pleasurable reading and literature instruction. (AEA)

Arguing that children's books play a significant part in transmitting a society's culture to children, this Digest discusses how gender roles are portrayed in children's books. It begins by discussing how the genders are portrayed in children's literature, and then addresses the question of why gender-representation in children's literature is…

Provides 10 citations from the ERIC database that offer teachers guidelines for selecting books, computer courseware, and supplementary materials of all kinds as well as ideas for classroom use. (MG)

Arguing that schools need to prepare all children to become competent citizens and to create an environment that fosters mutual understanding, this Digest discusses multicultural children's literature in the elementary classroom. It discusses the importance of multicultural children's literature and presents guidelines for selecting multicultural…

The issue of character education has recently received much attention at both the state and federal level. One approach that shows particular promise in instilling in children character traits known to promote success and happiness in life is that of using children's literature as a pedagogical device. This digest examines some of the pertinent…

The articles and papers reviewed in this Topical Bibliography and Commentary address the issues of policy statements guiding curriculum people as they select acceptable books for middle school students to read and, specifically, what books should be on acceptable lists. Because of varying perspectives from which the criteria and lists are…

Reviews ERIC documents concerned with the use of comic books in the classroom. (FL)