• Provides an easy-to-access research base that features a range of studies across oral and written language development, early reading and writing, joyful engagement, and effective instruction for beginning reading.
• Explains the role of joyful engagement as well as foundational language skills and strategies – all are essential.
• Explains why children need a full spectrum of beginning reading skills, strategies, and meaning-based understandings.
• Addresses universal design of learning (children need multiple paths to meaning), social-emotional learning, and essential nature of strength-based instruction.
• Helps teachers create an effective partnership with families; the book is written for teachers but with clear information and actions for families, daycare providers, physicians, and all who care about the healthy literacy development of children.

When young children are immersed in joyful and engaging shared reading experiences throughout the day, something wonderful happens. They learn to love books, enjoy reading, and see themselves as readers. They also gain basic reading skills and knowledge, which prepares them for successful reading instruction.

Eric Litwin and Gina Pepin provide practical tools and strategies to transform your classroom into a “reading playground”—a space in which children read along to, sing to, dance to, and celebrate words and texts. A space in which they experience the power of joyful reading.