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THE 2008 KIDS AND FAMILY READING REPORT™
CONDUCTED BY YANKELOVICH AND SCHOLASTIC


KIDS AGE 5-17 BELIEVE TECHNOLOGY WILL SUPPLEMENT – NOT REPLACE – BOOK READING AND SAY THEY WILL ALWAYS WANT TO READ BOOKS PRINTED ON PAPER

Tweens and Teens who Participate in Online Activities Are More Likely to Read Books for Fun Daily

A new study released today finds that 75% of kids age 5-17 agree with the statement, “No matter what I can do online, I’ll always want to read books printed on paper,” and 62% of kids surveyed say they prefer to read books printed on paper rather than on a computer or a handheld device. The Kids & Family Reading Report ™, a national survey of children age 5-17 and their parents, also found that kids who go online to extend the reading experience – by going to book or author websites or connecting with other readers – are more likely to read books for fun every day.

The 2008 Kids & Family Reading Report, a follow up to a similar 2006 study, both of which were conducted by Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company, and TSC, a division of Yankelovich, a leader in consumer trends research, again found that the time kids spend reading books for fun declines after age eight and continues to drop off through the teen years. 

Watch the Kids & Family Reading Report™ presentation.

Part I: Kids & Reading
89% of kids say:
“My favorite books are the ones I picked out myself.”

Part II: Technology and the Printed Book
62% of kids say:
they prefer reading a book that is printed on paper over reading books on a handheld device or computer

Part III: The Internet: An Extension of Reading
Two in three children believe:
that within the next 10 years, most books which are read for fun will be read digitally – either on a computer or on another kind of electronic device

Part IV: Parents' Role in Kids' Reading
Parents are a key source of book suggestions for their children
but nearly half say they have a hard time finding information about books their child would enjoy reading, and especially parents of teens age 15-17 (62%)

Downloads

Click here to download The 2008 Kids and Family Reading Report™ (PDF)

Click here to download The 2008 Kids and Family Reading Report™ press release

View the 2006 Report


For more information please contact:

Scholastic
Kyle Good
212-343-4563
kgood@scholastic.com

Sara Sinek
212-343-6899
ssinek@scholastic.com