The ability to use language (speak, read, write) is not something that children suddenly or automatically develop. It is rather a culmination of experiences with language that begin at birth. Sharing stories (oral storytelling, books) and “story experiences” (conversations, songs, poems, rhymes) with infants and toddlers is critical to building their emergent literacy skills. At the same time, it expands their experience and understanding of the world and also prompts positive interactions with adults and other children, fostering social development.

Sprinkled with charming vignettes and ideas for stories to share, From Lullabies to Literature explains how the many types of stories and story experiences are best used with very young children, with a particular focus on using books, and how teachers can plan and provide story experiences most effectively, including by partnering with families. 

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Some early childhood programs have adopted no-touch policies, and others allow only a very minimal level of physical contact between teachers and children. Yet touch is as necessary as food or water for young children to thrive and grow physically, cognitively, socially, and emotionally. Experiences of touch in all its forms—whether nurturing touch from adults, tactile explorations of the environment, or physical interactions with peers—are essential to high-quality early care and education.

From this book, practitioners will learn just why touch is essential to young children's development and how it can be incorporated safely into early childhood settings, from the infant program to the primary classroom.

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Active movement games encourage cooperative learning, and teamwork. The book includes the research and theory behind using movement games in early childhood programs, 49 field-tested games, adaptations for responding to individual abilities and needs, a chart of perceptual-motor skills involved in each game, suggestions for parent involvement, and directions for making inexpensive equipment.

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Children’s interactions with their special grown-ups affect everything in their lives, especially in their earliest years. And the relationships between those special people matter, too. When adult connections are caring and strong, parents, caregivers, and directors are motivated and empowered to work together to help children thrive. The book describes this concept of relationship-based child care, what understandings and attitudes support such care, and the policies required to enact it in a center setting. High-quality family child care homes and a growing numbers of enlightened centers are already using the model. As this book's many personal stories make clear, everyone benefits from relationship-based care!