This article describes the needs analysis, implementation and outcomes of a pilot program aimed at creating books with families in ways that represent their language and culture. "Creating Books in Communities" is part of "Better Beginnings," a state-wide program, developed by the State Library of Western Australia, for…

Engaging young children in literacy activities at home is one way for families to augment and enrich the home literacy setting and to participate in their child's education at an early age (St. Pierre et al. in "Dev Psychol" 41(6): 953-970, 2005). Burgess et al. ("Read Res Quart" 4(4): 408-426, 2002) suggested that the resources families have at…

Today's emphasis on using children's literature as a tool to teach reading and writing sub-skills distracts teachers' attention from looking to children's books for their historical role in helping children navigate the intellectual, social, and emotional terrains of childhood. This article argues, first, that early childhood educators must remain…