Since children develop the critical language and early reading skills necessary to enter kindergarten between birth and age five, reading aloud is one of the most influential steps librarians, teachers, parents, and caregivers can take to foster preschoolers' literacy skills. Early exposure to books heavily influences vocabulary knowledge, which…

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Early Learning." Contents include: (1) Current Proposals for Texas' Investment…

This article presents a case study of a five-year English-literacy project carried out in primary and middle schools in the Pacific island nation of Tonga from 2012 to 2017. It summarizes why and how the project was begun; the activities carried out by Peace Corps Volunteers and Tongan partners; its objectives; and the products, procedures, and…

Parents of children with autism face many challenges that arise from the practical, day-to-day issues of living with autism. The specific goals of this guide are to help parents: (1) find information about autism; (2) distinguish between research-based and non-research-based information; (3) become savvy consumers of information by giving them the…

Having a home library benefits children and parents alike, by allowing immediate access to literature and reference information and by encouraging reading. The cost of stocking a home library can be prohibitive to forming a substantial collection. This book provides a guide to purchasing books at a discount, including suggestions on essential…

This book is designed to help librarians build a lasting and enthusiastic relationship with parents and to help parents extend the learning opportunities of their children through a literate environment. The book contains activity pages for 101 children's literature selections, aimed at children in grades K-6. The activity page for each book…

The importance of reading in the lives of children demands that teachers, librarians, and parents give careful attention to the selection of books from which children may make their choices. The purpose of this bibliography is to acquaint adults and children with the wide range of interesting subjects and readable styles of literature which are…

This publication reviews the books from the major national children's book awards and lists. The following awards are covered: John Newberry Awards, Randolph Caldecott Awards, Coretta Scott King Awards, Mildred L. Batchelder Awards, Pura Belpre, Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, and the National Book Award for Young People's Literature. The lists are…

This bulletin presents a fundamental study of the social backgrounds of college freshmen in 33 colleges for Negro youth located in 17 states. The purpose of this study is to establish criteria and reveal trends with which local schools may compare their own student bodies; and to furnish a body of information which will be helpful in establishing…