Balloons,solar energy and dyes: an approach to primary science

In contrast to the previous article this one emphasises the importance of reading fiction. The joy of getting engrossed in ‘a good book’ is certainly something we should offer children. It is only one part of reading but an important one. Indeed its power to get the reading habit established is hard to over-emphasise. Hence this survey of factors that seem to affect children's voluntary fiction reading is interesting. The authors argue that the habit is a tender plant, easily disturbed. Both authors work at the Faculty of Education, New University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, and will supply a longer research report ‘Words, Words, Words’ on request.