A study used the "Emergent Reading Ability Judgments for Favorite Storybooks" (ERAJFS) scale to provide an informative description of children's emergent reading behaviors during a school year. Subjects, children ranging in age from two and one half years to five years who were enrolled in a day care center classroom, took part in two reenactment interviews, one of a frequently used predetermined book, and a second of a favorite storybook chosen by the child. After the interviews were videotaped and transcribed, the ERAJFS scale was used to score them. Results showed a range of behaviors from labeling and commenting at the lower end of the scale to independent reading at its highest level. Though the preschool children had received no formal instruction in reading for other literacy activities, their storybook reenactments indicated a developing knowledge of written language. (JL)