An English instructor examined 9 Judy Blume adolescent novels and interviewed 12 students (grades 6, 7, and 8) who had read the novels to look at the world as it was presented in the books and to compare the instructor's own perceptions with those of the adolescent readers. The study revealed that the books did in fact dwell on the problems of…

The use of extracts from works of prose literature for teaching English as a foreign language at intermediate and advanced levels is considered. Attention is directed to the effectiveness of using such extracts as a means of improving the English of foreign learners, and to criteria for the choice and presentation of the extracts. The last six…

Because good future studies and good fiction have a great deal in common, futurists need to recognize and apply the skills of word artists from all genres, particularly novelists and short-story writers. One form of science fiction that futurists could use is the scenario, which is an exploration of an alternative future. A good scenario should be…

Designed for teachers of young children, this document examines war and peace in literature. Chapter I, the introduction, presents a review of research on children's attitudes toward war. Children's literature (especially historical fiction and illustrated works), is described as an effective medium for teaching about occurrences such as the Nazi…

Many students now entering college have read so little as to be classed "preliterate," making the problems of teaching the classics of narrative fiction complex. An analysis of the relationship between reading and speech implies that students must begin in childhood with a rich oral culture; those who have been strangers to discourse are not…

This paper examines the fantasy literature that is currently available to young readers. Twenty-two children's books are listed and discussed under the following topics: good storytelling and lively imagination, recurring themes, satires and word play, original fairytales, and works that reflect the divided self, the occult, and parapsychology. It…

Specific steps for developing a reading and research unit on dragons is described. (JH)

Foreword to a series: "National Library Week, April 20-26.

The first of three volumes presenting a curriculum designed to help nonhandicapped students understand students with disabilities focuses on the use of literature to foster that understanding in junior and senior high. The first section examines literature in high school, and presents lessons (theme, objectives, and discussion guides) for five…

This critical annotated bibliography cites literature intended to help American children acquire an accurate image and understanding of Japan and Japanese culture. Of the approximately 300 items reviewed, over 150 have been included. The author selected for inclusion both good and bad publications to give teachers an idea of what to look for in…

The paper examines science fiction literature as a product and part of the social consciousness of the modern capitalist world order. This world order is seen as emphasizing science, technology, movement, growth, urbanization, industrialization, complex organization, and progress. The document is organized into two sections. The first section…

A study was conducted to investigate the relationship of fiction reading to adult development. Eighty students at an adult education center completed questionnaires that elicited information concerning their reading of fiction and their adult experiences, as well as demographic information. The results yielded a picture of a group of adult readers…

A total of 486 nonfiction reports and a proportional, stratified random sample of 300 short stories appearing in selected magazines from 1911 to 1930 were examined for the extent to which they portrayed or encouraged the emancipated woman. The study tested two assumptions: one, frequently made by writers commenting on the 1920s, that magazines of…

These annotated bibliographies of Japanese and Korean core collections are designed for use by medium-sized public libraries in either creating or expanding Japanese and/or Korean language collections. Author and title are given in the Japanese and Korean character script as well as in the English transliteration. The character script for…