This paper focuses on book-centered and "non-book" children and the role of the Internet in changing literature and children's reading habits. Highlights include diversity in children's books; differing magazine readership across the continents; the concept of narrative; the problem of book-centered children becoming outsiders in a more…

Concludes that there are fewer differences in children's reading preferences between sex, age, and nationality than educators have been led to believe. (FL)

A study of 127 French immersion students in Alberta found over two-thirds never read in French for pleasure outside school, a finding not influenced by gender, French reading achievement, or attitude towards reading in French. However, students benefitted from some methods used by teachers to stimulate reading. (51 references) (Author/MSE)

Observes that poststructuralist and earlier sociological accounts of children's literature neglect the relationship between their fantasies and preferred literature. Uses Freudian arguments to study British comics aimed at boys and girls. Suggests a need for descriptive accounts and theoretical work to better understand the hold of…

This article reports the results of a study examining the reading attitudes of the Russian people. This study also investigates the motives that guide adults in their choice of literature. Researchers have noted that two motives stand out: (1) "normative" or "pragmatic" reading (for school, exams, and reports; for carrying out…

Many measurement techniques have been developed to assess elements related to attitudes toward reading, which encompass an individual's views, feelings, values, and beliefs. Instruments developed by British teachers include Likert-type scales, a repertory grid technique, and an approach assessing reactions to screened photographs of different…

This paper reports a survey of children's interests at two ages. Data was obtained from a questionnaire administered to 200 grade 1 and 180 grade 7 boys and girls in ten different primary schools in the Perth, Australia area. Children were administered a 10-question questionnaire designed to measure leisure and academic interests. First grade…

Describes community involvement projects around the world which supply children with reading materials and special instruction. (MKM)

Reports on a study that surveyed upper primary class children to determine how widely they read, who their favorite authors are, how they choose the books they read, where they obtain them, and who they talk to about them. (HOD)

Substantiates a positive and significant relationship between high interest and literal comprehension for second grade readers in the Virgin Islands. Asks teachers to consider how this might affect classroom instruction. (FL)

Examines the reading behavior of education students and the pedagogical theories dealt with during their studies. Reports that pre-test findings indicate that the pedagogical literature read by education students is largely determined by the different courses of study (i.e., elementary or secondary education), and less so by a common disciplinary…

Exploring the range and diversity of humorous literature for children, this book attempts to remedy the past neglect of children's humorous books by taking humor seriously. The first five chapters of the book discuss what children find funny and at what age, different kinds of humor found in children's literature, passages of humorous tone in…

Discusses the effects of the grading standards of the National Criteria on Reading and stresses the importance of teaching children to enjoy reading and to appreciate literature. (DF)

A study of student reading habits at a Papua New Guinea university revealed that students read little professional material unless they were to be tested on it. Preferred reading materials were comics and fiction. Encouragement of reading habits in a country with only a recent written tradition is recommended. (MSE)

Presents results of an in-house survey on the effects of booktalking conducted at John Oliver Secondary School, Vancouver. A description of the sample population (440 students), students' reading preferences and reading material selection, and student response to 18 booktalks are discussed. A 12-item bibliography is included. (EJS)