Violent episodes in realistic fiction in children's books between 1960 and 1970 were analyzed according to the total space devoted to violence, details or intensity of descriptions, the role assumed by the heroes, villains, kinds of violent acts perpetrated, the relationship of participants in the aggressive act, value judgments expressed, and the sensuous and nonsensuous treatment of violence. Violent episodes were then read to groups of first, third, and seventh grade children from suburban, rural, and inner city schools to determine their responses. Results from the content analysis revealed no substantial increase in the violent content of children's books. However, historical fiction was, on the average, two times as violent as modern realistic fiction. The majority of violent acts were described in a sensuous fashion, and the majority of value judgments about aggression were against such acts. Children's responses indicated they liked the episodes read to them, with children from the inner city more often liking the violent episodes and demonstrating a higher level of understanding. Suburban and rural school children less frequently thought the story realistic. And there appeared to be no correlation between individual responses to the questionnaire used and measured personality traits. (Author/HS)