A study was conducted to determine how well-balanced and accurately the largest ethnic minority groups are portrayed in major contemporary basal reader series. The amount of ethnic minority content by group and by basal series was investigated, as were the qualitative aspects of that content: the locale of the story, the socioeconomic class represented, the identities of the characters, the time period in which the story took place, and the life situation depicted. Blacks, Hispanics, and Native Americans were selected for study because they represent the three largest ethnic minorities nationwide. A multiethnic category was included to cover the many stories in basal readers that feature characters from more than one ethnic group. The components for grades one through six of nine major basal reader series published between 1979 and 1981 were chosen for examination, and 3,389 stories were reviewed. Results showed that the total percentage of content devoted to ethnic minority groups among the basal reader series was parallel with an industry-wide figure of about 18%. Qualitatively, the results indicated that the readers present a rather unrealistic picture of ethnic minority groups and race relations. However, basal readers in general have improved a great deal over the years in their treatment of ethnic minority groups. (DF)