Intended as a guide for elementary school teachers to assist them in preparing and implementing specific literature units or in developing more long-term literature programs, this book contains 13 focus units. After defining a focus unit as an instructional sequence in which literature is used both as a rich natural resource for developing language and thinking skills and as the starting point for diverse reading and writing experiences, the first chapter of the book describes the basic components of a focus unit model. The second chapter identifies the theoretical foundations of this model, and the third chapter presents seven categories of questions used in the focus units to guide comprehension and composition or narrative. The remaining 14 chapters provide examples of the model as translated into classroom practice, each including a lesson plan for development, a description of its implementation, and a bibliography of texts. The units cover the following subjects: (1) animals in literature, (2) the works of authors Roger Duvoisin and Jay Williams, (3) the world around us, (4) literature around the world, (5) themes in literature, and (6) fantasy. An appendix of professional references is included. (CRH)