The article intends to highlight some contributions of the theory of the German sociologist Norbert Elias for studies in the area of education and culture which deal with reading, its objects and practices, and, especially, for studies regarding the production and consumption of books destined for new generations' education. Firstly, the text introduces the work in which the author develops the theory on civilizing processes, with its organization and general assumptions. Next, it discusses how the understanding of the process for the formation of modern western societies - according to Norbert Elias' ideas - presents productive contributions to a historical and sociological approach of the objects of cultural consumption destined to childhood, specially the books: objects by excellence of civility.
reading and civility; theory of civilizing processes; reading and childhood; children's books