Two of the most widely used reading programs in the country, the 1976 Houghton Mifflin Reading Series and the 1976 Ginn Reading 720 Series, are analyzed in this volume to determine the methods they suggest for teaching reading comprehension. Eight sections contain the following information: (1) a short description of some of the surface features of the texts of both programs, (2) the problematic aspects of the textual material offered during the first half of first grade, (3) an examination of pictures in the text in the early grades and a discussion of characteristics that may promote or inhibit comprehension of an accompanying text, (4) an examination of the previous knowledge assumed by the texts in later primary and intermediate grade materials, (5) instruction provided for developing vocabulary use, (6) a discussion of the traditional prereading element called setting a purpose for reading, (7) an examination of aspects of the story lesson divisions, and (8) a consideration of questions asked after each reading unit in the primary grades and after the entire selection at all grade levels. A summary of the analysis is provided. (MKM)