Noting that an examination of play from diverse perspectives deepens understanding and opens up new avenues for research and educational practice, this book brings together studies, research syntheses, and critical commentaries that examine play-literacy relationships from cognitive, ecological, and cultural perspectives. Each set of chapters is followed by a critical review. The chapters are: (1) "Bringing Books to Life: The Role of Book-Related Dramatic Play in Young Children's Literacy Learning" (Deborah Wells Rowe); (2) "The Narrative Connection: Stories and Literacy" (Greta G. Fein, Alicia E. Ardila-Rey, and Lois A. Groth); (3) "Symbolic Play, Phonological Awareness, and Literacy Skills at Three Age Levels" (Doris Bergen and Daria Mauer); (4) "Commentary--Cognitive Development, Play, and Literacy: Issues of Definition and Developmental Function" (A. D. Pellegrini and Lee Galda); (5) "Incorporating Literacy Resources into the Play Curriculum of Two Icelandic Preschools" (Johanna Einarsdottir); (6) "Supporting Literacy in Early Childhood Programs: A Challenge for the Future" (Loraine Dunn, Sara Ann Beach, and Susan Kontos); (7) "Reading Is a Source of Entertainment: The Importance of the Home Perspective for Children's Literacy Development" (Susan Sonnenschein, Linda Baker, Robert Serpell, and Diane Schmidt); (8) "Through the Bioecological Lens: Some Observations of Literacy in Play as a Proximal Process" (Kathleen A. Roskos); (9) "Commentary--Play, Literacy, and Ecology: Implications for Early Educational Research and Practice" (James E. Johnson); (10) "Social Contexts for Literacy Development: A Family Literacy Program" (Susan B. Neuman); (11) "'It Would Be as Good as Snow White.': Play and Prosody" (N. Amanda Branscombe and Janet B. Taylor); (12) "Literacy, Play, and Authentic Experience" (Nigel Hall); (13) "Sociocultural Contexts of Dramatic Play: Implications for Early Education" (Jaipaul L. Roopnarine, Meera Shin, Bridget Donovan, and Preeti Suppal); and (14) "Commentary--Constructing Sociocultural Approaches to Literacy Education" (Artin Goncu and Eleni Katsarou). (Contains 547 references.) (KB)