Reviews Patrick Shannon's "Broken Promises: Reading Instruction in Twentieth Century America," which presents arguments to demonstrate that basal readers have led to a reversal of the roles of teacher and textbook in reading instruction. Relates the author's experiences in trying to help teachers turn away from basal readers. (RS)

Draws a humorous analogy between superstitious behavior induced in chickens and the beliefs and folkways that are manifested in the teaching of beginning reading and the teaching of study strategies. Argues that it is very easy and natural to fall into patterns of superstitious, meaningless behavior, such as teaching from basal readers. (RS)

Presents a question-and-answer dialogue in which the author thinks about the queries he received or wished that he had received during the past year. (JD)

Argues that readability formulas accurately predict how easily a passage will be understood by considering sentence length and word difficulty. Claims that the misuse of readability formulas as writing guides is responsible for much of the criticism. Challenges the critics to come up with something better. (RS)

Presents the fifth in a series of six modules designed to give beginning teachers an opportunity to become familiar with the styles of authors and illustrators representative of the various genres of children's literature. (NKA)