Analyzed were five junior high school science textbooks, representative of science books published by eleven major publishing companies. The instrument used to analyze the textbooks contained eight major criteria: (1) educational rank of author, (2) mechanical make-up and cost, (3) psychological soundness, (4) subject matter, (5) literary style, (6) learning exercises, (7) role of science in a modern world, and (8) other desirable features. A point system was devised with an appropriate number of points assigned to each subcriterion. The rank order of texts according to points allotted is reported in the study. (BC)