Examines the role of pleasure reading in the development of young readers and, more specifically, the role of series books, such as Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. Provides suggestions for teachers on their role in cultivating series books as a form of pleasure reading. (TB)

Finds that reading practices involving books and work documents bore a strong relationship to literacy proficiencies, and that younger adults were more likely to read brief documents for work, while older adults were more avid newspaper readers. Concludes that engaging in a diversity of reading practices is indicative of reading maturity and has…

Describes several classic literature abridgements and retellings recommended by high school teachers for young adults. Provides title, publisher name and address, price, and a brief description of each book's content. (MM)

This article presents easy computer projects to send students into the summer feeling good about the past year and looking forward to the next. The projects involve printing summer reading book lists, making bridges to the next grade, publishing books of class events, designing reading posters, and creating summer calendars. (SM)

Relates children's extracurricular reading to their reading achievement scores to determine whether good readers read more and whether more frequent reading improved reading proficiency. Finds that preexisting reading proficiency and engagement in extracurricular reading both had significant effects on current reading achievement, although the…

Offers a detailed plan for a book swap, which not only helps place new books in the homes of most children but also places books in the homes of children who may have no books at all. (SR)

Describes a whole school supplemental reading program for secondary schools based upon the development and use of a schoolwide reading list that includes titles of books, the types of teachers (chemistry, history, physical education, etc.) who sponsor the books, and the "linked courses" that bestow academic credit for each title. (SR)

The types of vocabulary in three short novels were analyzed to determine the text coverage of the most frequent 2,000 words of English, and the vocabulary needed to gain 97-98% coverage of the running words in each text. It was found that a 5,000-word vocabulary was necessary for adequate coverage in pleasure reading. (Contains nine references.)…

States that reading educators are becoming concerned with aliteracy and that research is only now focusing on reading habits. Studies 39 avid readers and non-avid readers to examine home and personal factors related to leisure reading habits. Discovers differences for some aspects of reading attitudes, for motivation, and for several home factors.…

Surveys college students to investigate whether a relationship exists between academic achievement and the time spent in recreational reading. Finds a significant and positive relationship between cumulative grade-point average and time spent reading for pleasure during vacations. Examines how much students read, who reads the most, and what they…

Explores how eighth-grade students choose books for recreational reading. Identifies and analyzes strategies used during a book selection process and information valued during the experiences. Describes how accurately and thoughtfully many students can predict whether they would like to read a particular book or not. Demonstrates the complexities…

Examines conditions under which readers experience intense engagement in a text, termed "optimal experience" or "flow." Reports on two studies examining flow during reading. Concludes that (1) texts for pleasure reading or interest reading provided more flow; (2) fiction was more likely to produce flow than nonfiction; and (3)…

Examines reluctant readers, or aliterates, and identifies three distinct types: dormant, uncommitted, and unmotivated. Habits and attitudes of literate, aliterate, and illiterate students are presented, including enjoyment of reading, primary cognitive responses, and feelings about other readers. (LRW)

Features 10 new books for children; furnishes information about the stories and what type of book, i.e. picture books, novels, autobiographies, etc. Gives number of pages and prices. (PA)

The last three decades of the 1900s was a time in which dramatic changes occurred in the enrollments and corresponding attitudes of students enrolled in colleges and universities. Although considerable data exist on the activities and interests of students as they enter college (Astin, 1998), less is known about how the leisure interests of…