Includes bibliographical references and index.

The National Early Literacy Panel : a summary of the report / Timothy Shanahan and Christopher J. Lonigan -- Contributions of large-scale federal research projects to the early literacy knowledge base / James A. Griffin and Peggy McCardle -- Identifying early literacy learning needs : implications for child outcome standards and assessment systems / Elizabeth J. Spencer, Trina D. Spencer, Howard Goldstein, and Naomi Schneider -- Relations of children's socioemotional development to academic outcomes / Tracy L. Spinrad, Carlos Valiente, and Nancy Eisenberg -- Phonological awareness and alphabet knowledge : key precursors and instructional targets to promote reading success / Beth M. Phillips and Shayne B. Piasta -- Sharing books with children / Jill M. Pentimonti, Laura M. Justice, and Shayne B. Piasta -- Parent education and home-based efforts to improve children's literacy / Barbara Hanna Wasik and Beth Anne N. Feldman -- Significant differences : identifying the evidence base for promoting children's early literacy skills in early childhood education / Christopher J. Lonigan and Anne E. Cunningham -- Methodological and practical challenges of curriculum-based language interventions / David K. Dickinson and Catherine L. Darrow -- Young children's oral language abilities and later reading comprehension / Tiffany P. Hogan, Kate Cain, and Mindy Sittner Bridges -- Early literacy intervention for young children with special needs / Judith J. Carta and Coralie Driscoll -- Content, concepts, and reading comprehension : what's missing in the National Early Literacy Panel report / Tanya Kaefer, Susan B. Neuman, and Ashley M. Pinkham -- Reflections of the National Early Literacy Panel : looking back and moving forward / Christopher J. Lonigan and Timothy Shanahan.