Suggests that reading teachers should promote the use of the public library as something to do with leisure time. (MKM)

Recommends fine fiction for summer reading, including Nadine Gordimer's "My Son's Story" (1991), Lillian Smith's "Strange Fruit" (1944), Josephine Hart's "Damage" (1991), Jane Smiley's "A Thousand Acres" (1991), and George Eliot's "Middlemarch" (1874). Nonfiction suggestions include Harlan Lane's…

This book presents an informal history of books and reading, beginning with the first clay tablets and continuing on to the latest novels. The history recounted in the book reveals the power books have always had to delight and entertain, and to enlighten, educate, and "raise possibilities." But the story of reading also contains many…

The winner of the l985 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award in the category of board books explains that the photographs in her book "1, 2, 3" are truly international. (EL)

Describes the Author Festival held every two years in Humboldt County, California, at which students meet authors of juvenile and young adult books. Though the festival focuses on the students, authors have the opportunity to discuss their works with each other, and the festival conveys appreciation of their works. (SRT)

Discussion of fee versus free question for public library services includes definitions of access to libraries and access to information; reasons for charging fees; library users (adults, students, children); effects of public lending right and distributed publishing on recreational reading; and who should pay for services. Five sources are given.…

Identifies the qualities in DeJong's children's books that make them equal to adult books in the depth of emotion they cover. (CRH)

Reviews in brief new paperbacks and issues of previously reviewed hardcovers. Gives age level recommendations. (CRH)

Reviews K.M. Peyton's novel as worthwhile reading despite some dated plot contrivances. (CRH)

Although basic literacy will continue to be necessary for survival, mass communications and information technology are bringing about an inevitable and lamentable decline in reading for pleasure and in the love of literature for its own sake. (TE)

Relates an anecdote illustrating the variety of ways people can approach reading and suggests that young readers are frequently much more aware of the reading experience than parents suspect. Offers suggestions for parents to encourage their children's literary response. (HTH)

Relates how a child's love of Yoko Kawashima Watkins's book, <IT>So Far from the Bamboo Grove <RO>led to a friendship with Watkins. Considers the repercussions of this friendship on the child's reading motivation and development. (MM)

Argues that, if teachers want to see real writing improvement with their students, they must become advocates of free voluntary reading. Describes improvements the author has seen in his students, and lists some suggested titles for a classroom library collection. (SR)

Asserts that most modern reading theories take the position that to relax the will while reading is to either become a mere consumer or to submit to the tyranny of other minds. Discusses the nature of pleasure in reading, and argues that self-loss in reading can sometimes be a necessary prologue to self-empowerment. (PRA)

Reflects on childhood memories of reading a number of books by Leo Edwards and Margaret Pedler. (EL)