Acknowledging that young children's early understandings about literacy occur within their cultural and linguistic communities, the book compiles articles challenging traditional views of literacy and suggesting positive new practices. Each chapter includes "reflection" and "followup" sections that reinforce the link between theory and practice, and actual examples of children's dialogue, artwork, and writing highlight the literary messages conveyed. The articles are as follows: (1) "Literacy as Social Practice" (Criss Jones Diaz and Laurie Makin); (2) "Theoretical Perspectives in Early Literacy Education: Implications for Practice" (Jo-Anne Reid and Barbara Comber); (3) "Many Roads through Many Modes: Becoming Literate in Early Childhood" (Julie Martello); (4) "Language and Social Practices: Everyday Talk Constructing School-Literate Practices" (Susan Danby);(5) "Literacy Transitions" (Laurie Makin with Sue Groom); (6) "Children as Writers" (Caroline Barratt-Pugh); (7) "Children as Readers" (Pauline Harris); (8) "Authentic Literacy Assessment" (Alma Fleet and Vanna Lockwood); (9) "Building on Home and Community Experiences in Early Childhood Education" (Julie Spreadbury); (10) "Other Words, Other Worlds: Bilingual Identities and Literacy" (Criss Jones Diaz and Nola Harvey); (11) "Indigenous Literacies: The Case of Maori Literacy" (Margie Hohepa and Stuart McNaughton); (12) "Indigenous Literacies: Moving from Social Construction towards Social Justice" (Wendy Hanlen); (13) "Literacy for All? Young Children and Special Literacy Learning Needs" (Margaret McNaught); (14) "Literacy and Gender in the Early Childhood Context: Boys on the Side?" (Nola Alloway and Pam Gilbert); (15)"Technoliteracy and the Early Years" (Susan Hill with Donna Broadhurst); (16) "Literacy, Music and the Visual Arts" (Laurie Makin and Peter Whiteman); (17) "Children's Worlds and Critical Literacy" (Criss Jones Diaz, Bronwyn Beecher, and Leonie Arthur); and (18) "New Pathways for Literacy in Early Childhood Education" (Laurie Makin and Criss Jones Diaz). Each of the articles contains references. (HTH)