Written for teachers, researchers, and theorists who have grown up in a world radically different from that of the students they teach and study, this book addresses the importance of developing within children and adolescents a critical awareness of the social, political, and economic messages emanating from the different forms of popular culture. It explains the term "critical media literacy" and the different cultural resources each author brings to the book, then considers issues surrounding the selection and introduction of popular culture texts for use in critical media literacy lessons, providing examples of teaching strategies to engage students. Chapters in the book are: (1) Teaching Critical Media Literacy Using Popular Culture Texts; (2) Approaches to Teaching Using Popular Culture and the Politics of Pleasure; (3) Engaging Primary Grade Students in Critical Media Literacy: Jennifer's Lesson; (4) Engaging Upper Elementary Students in Critical Media Literacy: Margaret's Lesson; (5) Engaging Middle School Students in Critical Media Literacy: Donna's Lesson; (6) Identities, Positioning, and Critical Media Literacy; and (7) Where Are and Where We Need to Go in Theory and Research. (Contains 108 references.) (RS)