In Japan, the workshop-style approach for teaching reading has drawn recent attention. However, the obligation to use Ministry of Education-approved textbooks makes applying this method in classes difficult. In this study, we aimed to investigate the possibilities of incorporating workshop-style lessons into a Japanese language arts class and its…

The benefits of extensive reading (ER) are well known, yet integrating ER into curricula has been problematic. One factor is the adherence to the principle that students should freely choose what to read, which complicates connecting out-of-class reading with in-class content. Class readers, however, can more easily tie in book content with…

The four papers in this collection focus on cross-cultural concerns related to literature and literacy. The first paper discusses the development of children's literature as a field of study, and describes the emerging interest in children's literature as reflected in library collections, exhibits and book fairs, professional conferences,…