The essays collected in this book highlight the important links among home, school, and global society that will help students understand one another and contribute to a cohesive community. They describe the work of educators and children, and the materials and strategies they use to explore values such as compassion, caring, sharing, respect, and appreciation of cultural differences. The contention is that literature, multimedia, and literacy events can be used to promote not only the language arts, but also student choice, cooperative learning, and critical thinking. After an introduction by the editors, under Section 1 (Student-Teacher Connections) are the following essays: (1) "Children Reading Meaning in Their Stories and Lives: Connecting with Student Response" (Cynthia Benton DeCorse); and (2) "Critical Media Literacy and Values: Connecting with the 5 Ws" (Ann Watts Pailliotet). Under Section 2 (Home-School Connections) are these essays: (3) "The ABCs of Cultural Understanding and Communication: Teacher Assistants Learn To Respect, Appreciate, and Apply Differences in Literacy Instruction" (Shelley Hong Xu); (4) "Connecting Home and School Values through Multicultural Literature and Family Stories" (Brigette B. Laier; Patricia A. Edwards; Gwendolyn T. McMillon; Jennifer D. Turner); and (5) "Beware of Literacy Software: Connecting with Home and School Values" (Cathy Leogrande). Under Section 3 (Content Area Connections) are these essays: (6) "Historical Fiction Picture Books and Values: An Author's Reflections" (Deborah Hopkinson); (7) "Technology and Values: Connecting with Classroom Literacy Learning" (Elizabeth A. Baker); and (8) "Inquiry and Literacy Learning in Science: Connecting in a Classroom Community" (Patricia Ruggiano Schmidt). Under Section 4 (Schoolwide Connections) is this essay: (9) "Schoolwide Approaches for Teaching Values through Literature and Multimedia: Connecting across Classrooms" (Matthew L. Davidson). Under Section 5 (Global Connect