With proven, practical tools, this book helps teachers understand how to use non-fiction books to build childrens' background knowledge,  vocabulary and their acquisition of foundational reading skills.

Many educators, overwhelmed by the increasing demands of the profession and by the effort that the move to the Common Core Standards requires, continue to view fiction text as the primary source for both read aloud experiences and beginning reading instruction. This text helps all educators and prospective educators see nonfiction texts as an important component of all aspects of the PreK-2 curriculum and to provide them with practical, proven tools for selection and use of a wide variety of informational literature, including books, magazines, charts, graphs, digital media, and more. The authors examine why a balance of informational and narrative text is so important, and what recent research reveals about the value of using nonfiction text with young children. Those working most closely with children in kindergarten through second grade classrooms will find this to be a practical resource for understanding the Standards related to nonfiction text, and for selecting and using appropriate informational literature to build young children's background knowledge and their acquisition of foundational reading skills. Individuals responsible for professional development and for coaching teachers' implementation of the reading curriculum should be able to use this text in teacher book club discussion groups, and as the base for design of professional development sessions.