Reading to young children offers them many benefits including a sense of security which comes from physical closeness to an adult. In addition, the child perceives the format of print, begins to assimilate the basics of story construction, develops a prior knowledge base which is an essential ingredient of comprehension, and receives the message that information can be obtained from the written word. Common devices in children's literature include repetition, rhyming, story patterns, limited vocabulary, and listing. These devices support the learning processes of children and guide them toward literacy by (1) developing auditory discrimination and memory, (2) familiarizing them with literary devices that can be recognized in any text or used in any piece of writing, and (3) increasing awareness that the written word communicates for various purposes and in different forms. (SRT)