The role of literature is to help develop the individual and it takes a good book to do this. A poor book takes a child and puts him back a step or two, a mediocre book takes a child and leaves him where he is. (Author/NH)

Sixty percent of the population supposedly has the ability to read without severe mechanical problems but has little or no inclination to read except perhaps that which is required of him. A few practices that will lessen the student's disinclination to read are suggested. (Author/NH)

The editors of School Library Journal present their choice of 22 excellent new children's books, and the San Francisco Bay Area committee presents 24 new titles for young adults. (MF)

Urges educators to encourage the spirit of play in children's literature by reading widely, by reading aloud, and by pursuing excellence through familiarity with present and past works. Bibliography. (MD)

Notes that few books dealing with computers are available for elementary school students. Provides an annotated list of the books that are available and makes suggestions for their use. (FL)

Discusses the aims, history, data collection design, and winners of the West Australian Young Readers' Book Award. (HTH)

Muses on the meaning of last month's column, chides instructional materials that include instructions on how and what to think about their contents, and lists a large number of books that the author recently enjoyed reading. (SR)

Relates the author's frustration with the idea that writers of young adult literature should avoid profanity and make the books unobjectionable. Discusses the need for truth in telling the stories of his characters, and asserts that making his books unobjectionable would be to lie about what it is to be human. (PRA)

Examines Bloom's ideas on reading and books, suggesting that his stance on determining greatness is philosophically flawed and arguing that his prime criterion for selecting great texts is premised on a problematic theory of legitimation and greatness, leading to a restrictive view of possibilities for university-level reading. The Freirean notion…

Argues that good young adult books about war can help teenagers appreciate the blessings of peace and the horrors of war, and perhaps may inspire them to do what they can to preserve peace. Describes briefly 71 young adult war books worth reading. (SR)

Offers brief descriptions, written by middle schoolers, of 12 books for adolescents, novels in which children and young people endure hardship and struggle, and triumph over the odds. (SR)

Because young children disregard writing on the spine of a book, researchers chose to run a test on color preferences in books. In a library situation young children see most books from a spine-out angle; thus when allowed to select a book by themselves, the first characteristics noticed are size and color. This study is based on the hypothesis…

The content of recent children's literature--especially works dealing with death, sex, old age, and homosexuality--is not an end in itself; the handling of that content and its ultimate meaning are crucial in selecting books for children. (DD)

Discusses the element of risk in buying and recommending children's books for others to buy. Argues that adults should be willing to take that risk. (FL)