Research indicates that the use of children's literature can have a positive effect on both reading achievement and reading attitudes. The overemphasis on skills and the exclusive use of the basal reader does not appear to motivate students to become readers. Educators should be exposing children to worthwhile literature in order to motivate them to want to read and should be giving them the opportunity to practice the "whole act of reading." But a review of the research literature indicates that these recommendations are not currently being implemented in the classroom. (Fifteen references are attached.) (MM)