Research indicates that reading aloud to children significantly improves their vocabulary knowledge and their reading comprehension while affecting reading interests and language development. (DD)

Describes children's books that deal with the life crises of birth, hospitalization, divorce, handicaps, and death. (DD)

Addresses legitimate concerns about significant problems related to the need for reading instruction in today's secondary schools. Suggests ways to use literature that appeals to students' interests while emphasizing the development of critical reading skills. Considers how to match literary interests with reading skills instruction. (SG)

Determines the relationship between attitude and reading behavior in adults. Finds that adults with positive attitudes toward reading spend more time in daily reading and read a wider variety of materials than do adults with negative attitudes. (MG)

The article reviews findings in research about gifted readers, instructional materials, and curriculum. Promising teaching strategies are examined including interest assessment, learning styles evaluation, curriculum compacting, and enrichment. Innovative current programs and practices are briefly described. (Author/DB)

Investigates two characteristics of texts--structural importance and text-based interest--that affect what students remember from their reading of biography. Finds that interest has a powerful effect on recall for both good and poor readers. Finds that seductive details and main ideas were best remembered whereas details supporting the main idea…

Relates how a child's love of Yoko Kawashima Watkins's book, <IT>So Far from the Bamboo Grove <RO>led to a friendship with Watkins. Considers the repercussions of this friendship on the child's reading motivation and development. (MM)

Presents brief annotations of the 31 books chosen most often by middle, junior, and senior high school students. Notes that problem novels abound and that romantic fiction, sports, fantasy, science fiction, historical fiction, and nonfiction are included. (RS)

The article describes an elementary school's "celebrity reader" program, where students invite representatives of various professions to visit their class and read one of their favorite stories. Suggestions are presented for identifying and inviting guest readers and follow-up activities. (CB)

Explains the use of the personal anthology to stimulate wide reading and hold students accountable for what they read. Identifies strategies for and results of using the personal anthology in English instruction. (MS)

Suggests that, rather than ignoring the enormous interest of children for joke and riddle books, educators can take advantage of humor's natural attraction by using it to involve children in reading and to provide worthwhile learning experiences. Discusses humor as an instructional tool, classroom use of joke and riddle books, and teacher…

Interviews with 11 older adults (most with less than 8 years' schooling) found that (1) they get help with most writing and reading needs or avoid tasks that cause problems; (2) current reading and writing are mainly for pleasure; and (3) all expressed interest in using computers to improve reading and writing. (SK)

Examines poetry preferences of young children from a historical perspective and from a recent study conducted by the authors. Makes recommendations for building bridges to lasting poetry interest. (SR)