Reviews ERIC materials pertaining to the reading interests of children. (FL)

In attempting to define what constitutes a good children's book, the author looks at attitudes of those who have set standards in the past, such as Caroline Hewins, a Hartford, Connecticut, librarian of the late nineteenth century. Points that must be considered in evaluating children's books are made. (PP)

Describes some innovations in the organization of children's and school libraries in the USSR which were facilitated by the Public Law of 1973. (LLS)

Examines children's books by M. B. Goffstein and concludes that they illuminate the author's point of view--that there is beauty and dignity in a life of hard work to make something good, something that people can believe in. (HOD)

Discusses the four major concentrations that can form the framework for a childrens literature program: children's interests, literary types, literary elements, and creators of children's literature. (DD)

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)

Contends there is a disparity between the humorous books children choose to read and the humorous books adults choose for children to read. Finds this merits attention because research has consistently indicated that humor is children's strongest preference for reading material. Identifies and examines humorous books; finds different choices…

Discusses children's tastes in music and reviews children's books that have music as a theme. Presents a creative activities sampler for younger and older children as well as a list of resources, including books and films. (LRW)

In children's realistic stories about animals a number of wholly and unambiguously anthropocentric assumptions are at work. For instance, in a study most of the books (81%) in one sampling of 50 stories involve a pet or the process of domesticating a wild animal. In most cases the primary animal character is a dog or horse. The predominance of…

Several points need to be addressed when selecting humorous books for children. First, people of all ages react to humor in different ways; therefore, what one child finds funny another may not. Care must therefore be taken in sharing books with and recommending books for children. Second, humor itself is difficult to define, but humor should…

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…

The new realism in literature, revealing virtual extinction of literary taboos, is probably a positive development in offering to middle and high school students some topics and attitudes which more accurately reflect the realities they face. However, the younger reader should be protected more, especially from the violence illustrated in some…

This study was prompted by the lack of consistency in defining the interests, both general and in the area of reading, of children in the primary grades. Analysis of more than 15 introductory texts used to teach reading indicated that interest measurement is based on certain unquestioned theoretical assumptions. Students in 27 first- through…

Uses a literary analysis of "The Golden Bird," a Grimm Brothers fairy tale, to show how an investigation of the literary qualities of fairy tales can reveal what the artistry of such tales consists of. (GT)

Surveys what was being read by children in Britain from 1910 to 1950 and what the experts advised teachers, librarians, and children to read. (GT)