The evaluation and selection of basal reading materials should be a thorough process that ensure the success of the school's reading program. The ten areas of a basal series that should be made priorities, weighted, and evaluated include the skills programs, composition and readability, concepts, balance, literary value, testing program, teacher's manual, supplementary materials, field testing, and publisher's reputation. (A sample evaluation form shows how to use these criteria in rating and comparing several basal series at one time.) (RL)