Research has shown that reading aloud each day to your pre-school child is one of the most important activities a parent can undertake. But just how do you sort through the countless stacks of mediocre books that line the shelves of libraries and bookstores? And once you have hold of a quality book, how can you make sure your child can take full advantage of the read-aloud experience?"The ABCs of Literacy" answers all these questions and many more. It provides in-depth information on the latest research relating to the value of reading aloud, how to select great literature, and how to use this literature as a springboard to building phonemic awareness, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing skills.Also included are summaries of more than 300 titles of age-appropriate quality literature, and engaging suggestions for using art, cooking, writing and drama to extend the read-aloud experience.