The Home Run Book: Can One Positive Reading Experience Create a Reader?

Notes

The term "home run" book is taken from Fadiman (1947), in reference to his earliest experience in reading, a book entitled The Overall Boys. "One's first book, kiss, home run, is always the best." We use the term here not in reference in one's first reading experience, but one's first positive reading experience, the one that sets you on the reading path. We thank Jim Trelease for bringing this book to our attention, as well as for other helpful suggestions.

This figure is much higher than those reported previously. Other surveys of reading attitude asked more precise questions, including rating attitudes on a scale and distinguishing different kinds of reading (recreational, informational) and distinguishing reading in different situations (McKenna and Kear, 1990). Our results may appear more positive because a "yes" answer could have reflected even mildly positive feelings about reading, and "reading" might have been interpreted as purely self-selected "free" reading.

References

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