Discusses aspects of two qualitative studies that focused on: (1) children's interests in comics; and (2) reactions to a home-school comic lending library based in three classrooms over a period of seven weeks. Discusses results from both studies and implications for development of the primary school literacy curriculum. (BT)

Twenty teachers of the hearing impaired, who judged primary reading interest areas for 82 students (ages 9-12), were only moderately accurate in judging their students' reading interests. Teachers based their judgments on such factors as children's book choices at the library, interests expressed during classroom discussions, television interests,…

Discusses literature for transitional readers (8 to 11 year olds who can read fairly lengthy stories independently, but need to sharpen and extend reading comprehension and critical thinking skills). Outlines developmental characteristics of these readers, and characteristics of the literature they tend to favor. Includes references to 73…

Discusses the interests and tastes secondary students have for nonfiction. Presents ways to incorporate nonfiction into read-aloud activities. Discusses 18 nonfiction books suitable for use in secondary read-aloud programs. (RS)

Notes that educators must provide time for children to read books of their choosing. Features books themed around what might be referred to as "the culture of childhood," focusing on categories such as childhood curiosity, sports and games, familiar stories and tales, shared and vicarious experiences, and children's victories. Presents a list of…

Describes what some fifth-grade students read in the summer and why. Discusses 39 children's books in the following categories: summer experiences, trips and journeys, family experiences, and the lives of children in troubled times. Offers an excerpt from a discussion of middle school readers in response to reading the books on children in…

Many English teachers face the widespread misconception that if a work of fiction is enjoyable, it cannot be good, or, conversely, if it is good, it cannot be enjoyable. Critics of horror fiction, for example, would likely argue that better reading materials are available for students to read. Inclusion of materials other than "classics" into the…

This survey drew on a variety of national surveys and book industry publication and sales statistics to examine the number and kinds of people reading fiction, poetry, and drama. The survey used data from three different national surveys of readers conducted in the mid-1980s and including over 30,000 subjects to conclude that while literature…

Article probed teaching methods for use in converting non-readers to readers in elementary schools. (Author/RK)

A study was conducted to discover the components of books that children prefer over and above those children's books that adults critically acclaim. Forty intermediate-level fiction books included in the "Children's Choices" listings for 1978 to 1980 were read by three adult researchers and classified according to A. Applebee's taxonomy…

We should resist the temptation to label our times the Age of Television--it really is an era of mass communication, and books play a strong role in this process. A positive correlation between increased television viewing and the increased use of books is indicated by new highs in library circulation figures in the past two decades. Television…

To determine the relationship of the expressed reading interests of fourth grade students to their free selection library book choices, 12 boys and 9 girls were administered an interest category inventory and recorded their free selection choices on a special record sheet. Analysis of the data revealed a moderately positive correlation between…

The books in this annual listing have been reviewed and selected by the Children's Book Committee, a voluntary group of parents, teachers, librarians, writers, and specialists in various related fields. The listing contains books written for the nursery years through age thirteen. Titles are arranged, for the most part, according to age groups and…