Focusing on the not-yet-conventional ways in which young children write and read--their nature, contexts, and significance for continuing literacy development, this book presents the perspective that children's early reading and writing behaviors are not pre- anything, but are integral parts of an incipient language process. Following an introduction to emergent literacy by the editors, the chapters and authors are, as follows: (1) "Children Coming to Know Literacy" (Yetta M. Goodman); (2) "The Interplay between Information and Assimilation in Beginning Literacy" (Emilia Ferreiro); (3) "Writing and Reading: Signs of Oral and Written Language Organization in the Young Child" (Elizabeth Sulzby); (4)"Intervention Procedures for Increasing Preschool Children's Interest in and Knowledge about Reading" (Christine E. McCormick and Jana M. Mason); (5) "The Contracts of Literacy: What Children Learn from Learning to Read Books" (Catherine E. Snow and Anat Ninio); (6) "Creating Family Story: 'Matthew! We're Going to Have a Ride!" (Denny Taylor); (7) Separating 'Things of the Imagination' from Life: Learning to Read and Write" (Shirley Brice Heath); and (8) "Home Background and Young Children's Literacy Development" (William H. Teale). (NKA)