The chapters and essays in this book are drawn from the 1988 edition of "Play as a Medium for Learning and Development." The first chapter, "The Challenge of Educational Play," by Bernard Spodek and Olivia N. Saracho, is followed by two essays: (1) "Play and the Origin of Species," (Michael J. Ellis); and (2) "The Struggle between Sacred Play and Festive Play," (Brian Sutton-Smith). The second chapter, "Methods of Studying Play," by Doris Bergen, is followed by three essays: (1) "Some 'Good News' and Some 'Not So Good News' about Dramatic Play," (Kenneth H. Rubin); (2) "Imaginative Play and Human Development: Schemas, Scripts, and Possibilities," (Jerome L. Singer and Dorothy G. Singer); and (3) "Reality and Fantasy in Make-Believe Play," (Inge Bretherton). Chapter 3, "Stages of Play Development," by Doris Bergen, is followed by four essays: (1) "A Mental Image: A Question That Remains Open," (Constance Kamii); (2) "Moral Development in Play," (Rheta DeVries); (3) "Toddlers' Play and Sex Stereotyping," (Beverly I. Fagot); and (4) "Play and Gifted Children," (Annemarie Roeper). Chapter 4, "Using a Schema for Play and Learning," by Doris Bergen, is followed by three essays: (1) "Places of Beauty," (Anita Rui Olds); (2) "The Computer in the Play Environment," (Anne E. Porter); and (3) "Play, Technology, and the Authentic Self," (Doris Bergen). Individual chapters include suggestions for further reading, and the final section of the book contains 331 references. (LPP)