A six week study determined whether carefully chosen children's literature, as an ancillary component to the social studies curriculum, is more beneficial to students than teaching strictly from the social studies textbook. The study's null hypothesis states there is no difference between using the textbook and supplemental children's literature to teach social studies and using only the textbook, at the 0.05 level of significance. Subjects were one class of third graders (n=20); subjects made up the experimental group as well as the control group, through both units. The first three week unit (control factor) centered on community and state governments with the subjects receiving instruction, using only the social studies textbook and activities suggested from the textbook. In teaching the unit on local and state government, the experimental factor was controlled. No supplemental children's literature was used. The second three week unit (experimental factor) focused on federal government and citizenship with subjects instructed using the social studies textbook and supplemental literature. This unit included the experimental factor by supplementing the social studies text with children's literature. In addition, books addressing the theme were made available for children to read during any free time. To help insure that students were exposed to the additional literature, the researcher read selected texts aloud during social studies lessons. At the end of week three of each unit, subjects were tested over the content acquired. Tests were taken from the current textbook, "Communities" (Silver, Burdett, Ginn). A paired sample t-test was used to compare the mean test scores of the experimental factors and the control factor. There was no difference in test scores at the 0.05 level between the two units. The null hypothesis is retained. Includes a table and a figure. Three appendices include: a permission letter; a permission form; and a list of children's literature. (Contains 36 references and 1 table.) (Author/BT)