Reexamines aspects of the "real books/reading scheme books" debate that erupted into British literacy education in the late 1980s. Argues that the debate was not over-polarized, but that it did not take appropriate account of scholarly review of related research. Notes the relationships to current developments in the field. (DSK)

Explains that writing national history involves much more than arranging facts and dates, which is why, over 50 years after the end of World War II, the Japanese are still arguing about what actually happened during that time, Japan's role in war crimes and aggressive actions, and how to present it all in textbooks. (SM)

The author examines reasons why, historically and currently, a great deal of controversy in Italian education focuses on the provision of textbooks. He discusses such issues as single national textbooks, participation in selection, effects on teaching methods, provision of class libraries, and the requirement that parents pay for textbooks. (SJL)