This article explores the reading behaviours of 10 young competent nursery and reception children, The 10 children were selected from a group of 54 case study children involved in the national Bookstart evaluation study, "Bookstart: Planting a Seed for Life" (2005). This group of young readers, from different socioeconomic groups, were…

There has been much debate about whether children's books should show grim reality or a bright view. The author suggests that a book can show both. (10 references) (Author)

It was hypothesized that adults borrow books from the public library primarily as a result of browsing and that what facilitates browsing will significantly increase circulation. This report is on a study of the effects on public library circulation of putting a group of adult titles in a prime physical location. (15 references) (Author/NH)

Description of 200 recent picture books for children ages 3-10. (AF)

This brief look at what today's young people are reading does much to indicate what kind of people these young adults are. The books they read reflect their intense concern with the quality of their lives and the moral quality of their society. (NH)

Raises questions regarding the Notable Books project. (AB)

Examines arguments as to whether, how, and to what extent children's and adolescent literature is becoming postmodern. Suggests young adult literature has fully embraced the postmodern mode. Discusses three young adult novels that use postmodernist ideas and techniques: Sharon Creech's "Walk Two Moons," Louis Sachar's "Holes,"…

Notes that a middle ground of accommodation offers to settle the impasse in the debate over revising the literary canon. Discusses cross-gender reading--the pairing or clustering of a text in the canon with one outside the canon with similar structures and themes. (RS)

Reviews poetry anthologies published in the 1980s for both secondary and elementary levels. Focuses on how anthologies are structured and which poets are included. (MM)

Argues against providing children only with reading materials which offer happy endings. Argues for literature which depicts life as both happy and sad, difficult and joyful. (RAE)

Integrating comprehension and vocabulary instruction in read-alouds can help teachers make the very most of class time. The curriculum described illustrates how read-alouds, when implemented with strategic purpose, can boost learners' vocabulary knowledge and reading comprehension. Specifically, the author presents guidelines for: (1) selecting…

Teachers know the value of reading aloud to support children's learning and to foster a love of books (Glazer & Giorgis, 2005). In fact, many teachers have dozens, if not hundreds, of books on a vast number of topics. However, for reasons that range from lack of time to curriculum constraints, teachers may not always carefully examine what they…

This activity is designed to help build a bridge between the practical and the theoretical and lay the groundwork for students to assess and evaluate both communication theory and popular press titles. This activity is very effective in demonstrating that communication theory can be practical and applicable to real-life advice about work, home,…

This article traces historical uses of the phrase "why girls go wrong" to provide a context for analysis of Progressive Era reading guidance for girls and then turns to actual girls' responses to reading. The historic context depicts the milieu in which young women and the advisors who sought to guide them lived and read as a time of intense…