More than any other text available, this innovative book links quality children's books to an effective reading and language arts program. It hinges on the philosophy that teachers who have a passion for literature influence their students to become passionate about reading. An effective combination of current information on children's book titles, interviews with influential authors, and language arts strategies create a blueprint for establishing a meaningful children's literature methods text for contemporary classrooms. An original cover illustrated by Caldecott-winning David Wisniewski and interior artwork by children's author Steven Kellogg distinguish this text's design.