Describes the responses of children in kindergarten through second grade to reading aloud. Finds a proclivity toward a wide range of play with the action, sound, and rhythm of language related to the book's content. Suggests that verbal exclamations such as laughter, changing facial expressions, and imitative gestures are legitimate features of…

Presents an annotated bibliography of four book selection aids for read-aloud books and nine selection aids for other books for children. The importance of literature for children is discussed, and librarians' and teachers' roles in acquainting parents with book selection aids are described. (LRW)

Examines first-year college developmental reading students' aliterate behaviors as revealed in self-reported reading histories. Finds that most subjects had early enabling literacy experiences, but even those experiences did not provide a hedge against later aliteracy. (RS)

Assesses whether preschool children learn new vocabulary from a single reading of a storybook and whether certain conversational devices used by parents during joint book reading facilitate vocabulary growth. Finds that, although receptive vocabulary learning was robust, there was no evidence of differential learning of vocabulary under different…

Suggest oral reading as a valuable way to interest students in the joys of reading. Lists four guidelines for reading aloud. (PRA)

Describes ways to teach nonfiction with the shared book experience. Discusses shared book experience with SQ3R, and extending shared book experience. (SR)

Describes a teacher's experiences reading aloud with two preschoolers in a homeless shelter and how the interaction increased the children's print awareness and ameliorated the stress of being in the shelter. (HTH)

Considers the benefits and impact that come from reading texts aloud with other persons. Provides a plan by which partners can read books together aloud. Claims that this is a vital and habit-forming activity. (HB)

Suggests that the school year is like a growing season, but with planting in the fall and harvest in the spring. Discusses ways teachers can "prepare the soil" for cultivating students' love of reading. Presents a baker's dozen ideas to build the desire to read. (RS)

This interview with author and illustrator Rosemary Wells focuses on her picture books for children. Topics include reading aloud, saving and retelling the classics, influences on her work, page-design preferences, emotional content, the development process, working with other illustrators, and material from other cultures. (LRW)

Considers how read-alouds motivate students who might be less than motivated readers and can also introduce avid readers to a world of books they might not otherwise find on their own. Suggests and describes 11 books to read aloud to the entire class. Lists 4 books suggested for individual readers. (SG)

Characterizes the influence of various conditions of word exposure upon children's receptive and expressive learning of novel words occurring within storybook reading interactions with adults. Examines adults' questioning versus labeling of novel words and adults' use of perceptual versus conceptual questions about novel words. Suggests that…

Explores the consequences for children and teachers when a scripted literacy program eliminates time for thoughtfulness. Examines some implicit and explicit expectations of children's talk during read-aloud time by sharing a study of response conducted in a multiethnic, primary grade classroom. (SG)

The author of "Teachers Touch Eternity," who is also a popular speaker as well as an Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) member, shares some of her classroom tips for teachers as part of this back-to-school issue. Some of her recommendations include: (1) be enthusiastic; (2) make the classroom inviting; (3) create a positive…

Picture books are short books, usually 32 to 48 pages long, in which the illustrations and text work together to tell a story or provide information. In this article, the author discusses how a library media specialist has effectively hooked the students into an in-depth study of the Civil War in a 20-minute read-aloud activity, using historical…