• “Straight from the Classroom” is a first-person essay from a practicing teacher that describes a successful activity or method used in the classroom.

• More specific teaching models and ideas for instruction included on the “Encouraging Response to Literature” chapter (Ch. 13).
• Revised “Teaching Ideas” throughout each chapter provide valuable, practical lesson ideas and activities.  
• “The Teacher as Student: Activities for Your Continuing Development” are end-of-chapter activities that help readers develop various aspects of their teaching skills. 

Three key chapters have been completely revised:

• Uniquely updated Chapter 4 on Multicultural and International Literature  expands the definition of diversity by including discussion of exceptionalities, gender equality, and homosexuality and alternative families, devoting more time discussing literature written from the perspectives of “inside” and “outside” the culture.
• The richly illustrated “Picture Books” Chapter (5) includes a new discussion on cultural influences on art in picture books; unique discussion of book design, including covers; and unique coverage of visual literacy and “reading” illustrations.
•  “Literary Meaning-Making and Children’s Response to Literature” (Ch. 3) addresses the need for more attention to illustration by including a unique textual perspective section that presents material on visual literacy and discusses differences in responses to chapter and picture books.

New and unique pedagogical features:

• “Top Shelf” booklists in every chapter list the authors’ best picks of titles that exemplify a particular concept discussed in the chapter (e.g. Humorous Picture Books or Multicultural Audiobooks.)
• “Teacher-Librarian Partnership” feature in every chapter offers suggestions on collaborations between teachers and librarians.
• “Technology in Practice” teaching tips appear throughout each chapter and provide practical ideas and activities for the classroom utilizing new media technology (e.g. how to create a student book referral database).

New and expanded coverage of important and timely topics: the re-emergence of graphic novels (aka comic books), the influence of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2000 on reading instruction in the public schools, and censorship all in Chapter 1; visual depictions in traditional literature in Chapter 6; historical evolution of realistic fiction, and magical realism both in Chapter 8.