Kathleen A. J. Mohr
Children's Choices for Recreational Reading: A Three-Part Investigation of Selection Preferences, Rationales, and Processes
University of North Texas
report delineates threepart investigation first graders preferences selection rationales processes choosing picture book onehundred ninety first graders invited select favorite book among nine highquality wellillustrated picture books representing variety topics media genres addition 122 students also interviewed selections made choices overwhelming majority first graders preferred informational books especially animal books finding contradicts much previous research indicating young readers particularly girls favor narrative text selection rationales students focused topic perceived content particularly sophisticated selection processes data indicate gender differences especially related social aspects recreational reading perceived reading ability study extends ongoing professional dialogue related text preferences independent recreational reading challenges educators better understand even young readers may develop readers postmodern information age