This study explores the relationship between features of the books students select for independent reading and their motivation to read. After spending 15 to 20 minutes reading from their self-selected texts, participants (n = 340) completed the Motivation to Read Profile-Revised (MRP-R) (Malloy et al., 2013) and provided information about their…

In many schools, independent silent reading of self-selected books is used to promote reading. However, self-selection may be insufficient to counter negative reading experiences, particularly when students choose books not attuned to their reading level and interest. Two studies experimentally tested whether personalized expert guidance when…

Research in the field of literacy has identified choice as a key component affecting students' reading habits and their resulting literacy growth. This article discusses an in-school independent reading project in which students are provided the freedom to choose books, use ambient music, and engage in book talks. The children showed increased…

In fall 2015, Scholastic, in conjunction with YouGov, conducted a survey to explore family attitudes and behaviours in India around reading books for fun. The key findings of this research, which are presented in this report, are based on a sample of 1,752 parents and children, including 350 parents of children aged 0-5; 701 parents of children…

Audiobooks are excellent tools to help students build literacy skills as well as improve listening, writing, and vocabulary competencies. In many shared or independent reading situations, audiobooks offer support to reluctant and struggling readers, special-needs students, and English-language learners. They are also embraced by voracious readers.…

Discusses five issues involved in selecting books for independent reading. (SR)

Bibliotherapy, identifying with a storybook character, is one of the best ways for a child to gain insight into himself and to have a better understanding of himself and others. To begin this technique, it is necessary for the teacher to become well-acquainted with children's books so that he may be able to give capsule summaries of appropriate…

Intended to make the job of finding the right book for the right child easy, this book lists the "Children's Choices" selections (books recommended by children themselves) for 1989, 1990, and 1991. Each of the book's over 300 entries is annotated and includes publication information. Entries are grouped by the following reading levels:…

To determine whether children find paperback books more appealing than hardbound books, children's reactions to paperback books were compared with their reactions to the same titles in hardbound format. A total of 150 fifth graders were divided into two groups: 78 children (42 boys and 36 girls) examined 30 hardbound books, and 72 children (38…

Intended to help young readers of high school age find the kinds of current books that make them want to read more, this book describes nearly 800 quality fiction and nonfiction titles published between 1988 and 1991 for young adults. The book's annotations are grouped by subject matter in 32 sections keyed to senior high students' interests and…

The 1200 books, published from 1985 through 1987, were selected to provide pleasurable reading for high school students. Annotated entries, listed by author, provide the title, publisher, year of publication, length, type: fiction or nonfiction, and are arranged alphabetically under 47 main categories. These include: (1) adventure and survival;…

The need to develop in children a desire to read and an appreciation of worthwhile reading materials is discussed. Each chapter is written by an authority and covers a different aspect of children's library book reading. Topics discussed include: the courage and valor of characters in books and the importance of these to children; the authors of…

This survey of reading material for elementary students covers over 320 books from 38 publishers, more than three-fourths published since 1957. The books reviewed were offered by their publishers as "books with stories or interesting information, with simple sentence structure, reasonably limited vocabulary, and a measure of repetition--for those…

An examination of how well the Canadian public library is meeting the needs of the serious reader interested in self education, as compared to new and secondhand book stores and academic libraries, found that the public library is the most important and effective agency in providing materials for this group. (CLB)

A study determined the relationship, if any, between students' learning styles and the types of books they choose to read independently, as well as the amount of time they spend reading independently. Study participants were 72 seventh-grade students attending a middle school in Cobb County, Georgia, who had scored 70 or above in any of the four…