To answer the question of how phonemic awareness works to facilitate reading acquisition, this paper explores the fundamental connection between phonemic awareness, the alphabetic principle, and phonics in learning to read. The paper undertook a literature review to prove that phonemic awareness is an essential element in the path to literacy. It found that the evidence reveals that phonemic awareness can significantly bridge the critical gap between inadequate preparation for literacy and success in beginning reading. It also found that without an understanding about spoken language, students will have difficulty with the alphabetic principle and the letter-sound correspondence (phonics), all of which are necessary for success in reading. (NKA)