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Abstract

One way to help cope with the problem of poor reading ability in the elementary schools, particularly in schools in poverty areas, is dealt with in this article: It is recommended that school and classroom libraries be filled with lots of paperback books of high interest level but low reading level from the time children first learn to read. The article presents a method for using paperbacks to improve children's reading motivation, competence, and independence. It also gives examples of good low-reading-level/high-interest-level books, reading budgetary facts in poverty area schools, advantages of paperbacks to children in their quest for skillful independent reading, and the economic practicality for schools and publishers of producing and purchasing paperbacks.