Comprehensible and Compelling: The Causes and Effects of Free Voluntary Reading

Recent research on literacy demonstrates the valuable role of libraries. Summarizing decades of research about language development, this thorough title will guide understanding of reading comprehension in a new way. Krashen, Lee, and Lao discuss "Progress in International Reading Literacy," an international study of literacy in fourth graders. Is "light reading" valuable for kids? The authors make the case that Compelling Comprehensible Input (or books so engrossing that readers become spellbound) is key to language and literacy development. The lessons in this volume will help librarians, educators, and parents develop effective and enjoyable reading programs. Librarians will appreciate the socioeconomic reading statistics and discussion of how libraries instill in children a love of reading that leads to higher reading scores. Rounding out the volume are an excellent list of references and an easy-to-follow index to help navigate each study.