The results of an APEID (Asia and the Pacific Programme of Educational Innovation for Development) workshop on producing textbooks and other teaching and learning materials, especially in reading, for the first level of education are provided in this book. An initial overview presents the objectives and the organization of the workshop. The second part of the report includes a summary of the existing educational setting and recommendations for making changes in six countries: Bangladesh, Maldives, Republic of Korea, Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. This section also reviews briefly studies of Thai language skills and child development, discusses a Thai language teaching program in grades 1 and 2, explores aspects of the New Zealand reading experience, and outlines Malaysia's new primary school curriculum project and education in Papua, New Guinea. Part three describes factors in each country influencing instructional materials development and teaching and learning methods, and includes a table with relevant information. The fourth part deals with topics related to production, distribution, utilization, and evaluation of teaching and learning materials, while the fifth and last part contains suggestions for revitalization and reform of present production systems and structures. (EL)