A study investigated the depiction of older characters in basal reader series from 1975 to 1983. A checklist was used to collect data concerning the treatment of older people in the stories and pictures of the following series: (1) Macmillan and Company (1975), (2) Allyn and Bacon (1978), (3) Scott Foresman (1978), Ginn and Company (1982), and (5) D.C. Heath (1983). Older people were identified by descriptive terms in the text, by pictures, and by designation of grandparents in the narrative. The checklist was marked according to whether the character appeared in the story only, in the picture only, or in both. The findings revealed that the elderly were presented more favorably in newer basal readers than in earlier series with regard to their capabilities, occupations, mentality, physical well being, personality, appearance, activities, and overall image. The gender bias in favor of males, however, still existed in both stories and pictures. (FL)