Analysis of sex and race representation in almost 3000 stories drawn from 77 basal readers in 7 series published between 1980 and 1982 shows that, although minority and female numerical representation has increased, there has been little progress in role models offered. In terms of representation in the labor force, males of all races were overrepresented, while females of all races were underrepresented. The options for role models among men of color (i.e, all groups except whites) and women of all races were found to be excessively narrow and often unrealistic. Older people, one-parent families, and the disabled were all severely underrepresented. (RDN)