This book provides the important support needed to ensure that preschoolers become confident, competent writers. The reader will get a detailed picture of early learners' writing development; learn to identify and build the knowledge and skills preschoolers need to understand how print works; and find out how to provide the appropriate setting, assess preschoolers' writing development, and work with parents to support children's writing development. This volume contains the following chapters: (1) Where Young Children Start in Learning to Write; (2) From Scribble to Script; (3) From Letter Strings to Real Words; (4) From Short Messages to Longer and More Coherent Messages; (5) Time, Space, Materials, and a Helping Hand; and (6) Home-School Connections and Ideas for Assessment. A glossary, index, and references are also included.