Intended to help teachers decide which books to start with when incorporating children's literature into the reading program and to show them how to use these books with a variety of readers, this book provides a rationale and guidance for using "real books" to teach reading. Titles and authors of the articles included are as follows: (1) "Inviting Readers to Literature" (Bernice E. Cullinan); (2) "The Making of a Reader: A Personal Narrative" (Bill Martin, Jr.); (3) "Keep a Poem in Your Pocket" (Nancy Larrick); (4) "Developing Readers" (Charlotte S. Huck; Kristen Jeffers Kerstetter); (5) "Children's Literature: The Natural Way to Learn to Read" (Linda Leonard Lamme); (6) "Teaching Higher Order Reading with Literature: Primary Grades" (Lee Galda); (7) "Extending Multicultural Understanding through Children's Books" (Rudine Sims Bishop); (8) "Literature: Key Element in the Language and Reading Program" (Dorothy S. Strickland); (9) "Enriching the Arts and Humanities through Children's Books" (Sam Leaton Sebesta); (10) "Teaching Higher Order Reading Skills with Literature: Intermediate Grades" (Lee Galda); (11) "Characterization in Literature: Realistic and Historical Fiction" (Dianne Monson); (12) "Science Fiction and Fantasy Worth Teaching to Teens" (M. Jean Greenlaw; Margaret E. McIntosh); (13) "Teaching Higher Order Reading Skills with Literature: Upper Grades" (Lee Galda); (14) "Enriching the Basal Reading Program with Literature" (Ira E. Aaron); (15) "The Republic of Childhood and the Reading Disabled" (Roselmina Indrisano; Jeanne R. Paratore); (16)"California Reading Initiative" (Francie Alexander); (17) "Resources to Identify Children's Books for the Reading Program" (Arlene M. Pillar). These articles aim to make the subject of children's literature approachable through an informal, conversational writing style. Indexes of children's authors and books are included. (JD)