Based on Louise Rosenblatt's transactional theory of reader response, the studies collected in this book present findings and recommendations that contribute to the understanding of how children create meaning from stories, how they acquire literacy skills to express that meaning, and what role educators play in these literary processes. The book is divided into four parts dealing with literary responses in early, middle, and late childhood, as well as across childhood. Following an introduction by the editors, chapters in the book are: (1) "The Literary Transaction: Evocation and Response" (Louise M. Rosenblatt); (2) "Star Wars and the World Beyond" (Rachael A. Hungerford); (3) "The Judge Comes to Kindergarten" (Deborah G. Jacque); (4) "Reading Aloud in a Primary Classroom: Reaching and Teaching Young Readers" (Janice V. Kristo); (5) "The Jolly Postman Comes to Call: Primary Writers' Response to Literature" (Jo-Anne Wilson Keenan); (6) "What's a Bustle?" (Judy A. Yocom); (7) "Dances between Stances" (Kathleen E. Holland and Leslie A. Shaw); (8) "The Evolution of Response through Discussion, Drama, Writing, and Art in a Fourth Grade" (Lynda Hobson Weston); (9) "Children's Responses to Poetry in a Supportive Literary Context" (Amy A. McClure); (10) "Responding to Literature through Journal Writing" (Joanne M. Golden and Elaine Handloff); (11) "Exploring Literature with Children within a Transactional Framework" (Margaret Anzul); (12) "Puerto Rican Students Respond to Children's Books with Puerto Rican Themes" (Ann Egan-Robertson); (13) Beyond the Information Given: Response to Nonfiction" (Maryann Downing); (14) "The Princess Learns a Lesson: Three Studies of Theme in Individual and Interactive Contexts" (Susan Lehr); (15) "Going Up the Beanstalk: Discovering Giant Possibilities for Responding to Literature through Drama" (Brian Edmiston); (16) "Children's Responses to Picture Books: A Developmental Perspective" (Barbara Kiefer); (17) "Making Connections across Literature and Life" (Kathy G. Short); and (18) "How Preferences and Expectations Influence Evaluative Responses to Literature" (Lee Galda). A commentary by Bernice E. Cullinan on the response to literature research studies concludes the book. (RS)