Twenty-eight pre-school children, identified as having either a high or a low degree of interest in books and stories at nursery school, were compared by means of observations, tests, interviews with parents about activities at home, and questionnaires for staff about activities at school. (Author)

Most criticisms directed at basal reader stories concern the unreal characters which tend to depict only middle-class families and use unreal language patterns. However, such criticisms do not get to the core of the problem. A comparison of stories from basal readers with some famous folk tales illustrates how the here-and-now stories from basal…

Foreword to a series: "National Library Week, April 20-26.

This paper argues that the best way to teach reading to children is through literature that reflects children's own language and what they consider relevant. Only those materials written in a language very similar to that which the child hears and uses himself, the author argues, will serve as the best teaching devices. Since the language of…

Discusses children's literature in terms of (1) children's responses to it, (2) its literary tradition, and (3) its benefits to children and adults. (VJ)

This collection of 52 articles reprinted from the "Horn Book Magazine" (1949-66) is intended to stimulate discussion on all aspects of children's reading and children's books. The articles are collected under seven headings: "Inspiration--How It Comes;""Goals and Guidelines for Writers and Illustrators;""Re-creating Other Times;""The Matter of…

Written for teachers, librarians, students, parents, and other storytellers, this book emphasizes the value and enchantment which children can find in the fabulous stories of four main European traditions--Greek myths and legends, Northern myths and legends, Arthurian Romances, and fairy tales. The four chapters contain (1) discussions of myths,…

This study investigated children's preference and comprehension responses to stories in which both male and female main characters were represented in traditional and nontraditional roles, and stories in which only the opposite sex main characters were portrayed in those roles. A total of 218 girls and 169 boys from grades five and six (all with…

One of the goals of the Oral Literature Workshop was to point out to parents the "humanizing" experience that can be found in folk literature and to suggest some ways of using this literature in the lives and development of the child. This report of the Workshop contains: the workshop summary, reading aloud to children, some techniques…