The Fry Readability Formula was used to determine the readability levels of 12 first and second grade basal texts. These texts were part of the Ginn 360, Ginn 720, and Macmillan Series "r" basal reader series. The results showed that 4 of the 12 books tested did not correspond closely to the publisher's readability levels. The Ginn 720 text for the second half of first grade had readability levels significantly higher than the publisher's data. For the beginning second grade texts, both the Ginn 360 and Ginn 720 texts had readability levels significantly higher than the publisher's data. The Macmillan Series "r" was the only basal series that showed an exact correspondence between the publisher's data and the Fry Readability Formula data. (A survey of research related to first and second grade basal texts' readability levels is included.) (RL)