This book describes a whole language program that has as its ultimate goal the creation of students who read competently, critically, and joyfully, far beyond the classroom door. The book urges teachers to move beyond the skills-based approach and to embrace a philosophy that begins with the heart--rather than the head--of the learner. The book begins with an anecdotal outline, a preface, and an introduction. Chapters in the book are: (1) Setting Up an Affective Reading Program; (2) Creating a Positive Classroom Climate; (3) Providing for Skills Development and Evaluation; (4) Emergent Literacy and Language Experience; (5) Getting Meaning from the Printed Page; (6) Reading and Writing Poetry; (7) Reading through Creative Drama; (8) The Incredible Instructional Cloze; (9) Reading Aloud to Children; (10) The Total Teaching Triangle: Engaging the Parent; (11) Creating Classroom Authors; (12) Reaching Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners; and (13) Basic "Truths" in Teaching Children: What Is Negotiable? An Afterword and a list of 175 books, picture story books, wordless books, and poetry suitable for a classroom library are attached. (RS)