The Love of the Book: Students' Text Selection and Their Motivation to Read

Abstract This study explores the relationship between the books students select for independent reading and their motivation to read. Instructional recommendations based on key findings are presented. To gather data, study participants completed the Motivation to Read Profile‐Revised. They also shared information about the books they had selected for independent reading on the day they completed the MRP. Analysis of the data revealed significant, positive correlations between students' enjoyment of their chosen books and their motivation to read. Enjoyment was also significantly and positively correlated with students' perceived value of reading, their self‐concept as readers, and the amount of time they reported reading during their free time. Associations between motivation and other features of the book (i.e., format, genre, number of pages) were not statistically significant. Follow‐up semi‐structured interviews provided insights into these findings. This study adds further support for the importance of matching children with compelling texts.