Organised around genres and written in a reader-friendly tone, this text is packed with teaching strategies, technology applications, authoritative coverage of culturally diverse literature, and instructional tie-ins for helping children grow in their language and reading abilities.

This widely popular book is organised around genres, including a complete chapter on each major genre plus a full chapter for each of the four subgenres of fiction. The teaching strategies, technology applications, coverage of culturally diverse literature, and instructional tie-ins are of immediate use to teachers and parents. Included in each genre chapter are bibliographies of exemplary books in print, multiple annotations, and evaluation criteria for the genre. The author writes in a conversational tone and defines each literary and educational term in the text the first time it is used, and then reinforces the meaning in a useful end-of-book glossary.

The extensive coverage of culturally diverse literature found throughout the book is supplemented by an excellent chapter (8) on culturally diverse literature written by minority literature specialists who give readers an insider's view of their cultures and provide annotated lists of books by (not just about) minority authors and illustrators. This, coupled with the many instructional ideas woven throughout the book, and the final chapter, "Teaching Reading through Literature," helps teachers and parents apply their knowledge of literature to help children grow in their language and reading abilities.