Amazon.com description: Product Description: The emerging field of family literacy, which cuts across early childhood education, early literacy development, parent education, adult education, and parent-child literacy interactions, has never had a comprehensive volume that pulls together and integrates its many interacting components. That is the mission of this handbook. It provides scholars, students, policymakers, and practitioners (both inside and outside the field) with an invaluable snapshot of its current boundaries and rapidly growing content. With contributions from experts in each of its component fields, it provides an up-to-date picture of existing family literacy programs, of the research and theories that guide these programs, of current issues, and of likely future directions. Key features of this outstanding new book include the following:

*Comprehensive--Whereas many books deal with various components of this broad and loosely coupled field, until now there has never been a book that profiles and integrates its overlapping component fields.

*Recommendations for Practice--Information essential to the development of curriculum and instructional strategies is integrated throughout the book. Practical guidance is offered in such diverse and intersecting areas as early literacy, the role of literature and storybook reading in literacy learning, adult learning needs and strategies, and professional development.

*Cultural and Family Influences--The book examines cultural and family influences on literacy practices and provides effective ways of responding to family diversity, including the needs of bilingual and immigrant participants.

*Program Implementation--Program recommendations cover such distinct topics as integrating the curriculum, enriching early childhood classrooms, enhancing parent-child literacy interactions, and coordinating with other agencies.

*Assessment--To promote future research and evaluation, attention has been focused on ways of assessing children, adults, the educational setting, and implementation strategies.

This book is intended for professionals (directors and staff) and graduate students in the areas of family literacy, early childhood education, child development, parenting, and adult education, as well as researchers and policymakers in child development and family literacy.