The effects of differential reading (and writing) habits on the development of directional preferences in reproducing single and multiple stimuli was investigated on children of three ethnic groups : English readers, Hebrew readers, and Arabic readers. The subjects, 540 children ranging from kindergarten through the 8th grade, were presented with single stimuli and with series of stimuli for reproduction, and the horizontal directions of their responses were recorded. The results pointed to the differences and similarities in the effects of acquired reading habits on directional preferences of subjects differing in age, sex, and ethnic origin.