This book is intended as a resource for preservice and practicing teachers who want to build, extend, or enliven a program in which students explore the expanding world of children's literature. The book's author draws on her 30 years as an elementary school teacher and student of literary/literacy learning to present a theoretically grounded and eminently practical vision for teaching children's literature in the classroom. At the heart of this vision is literary discussion, viewed as an invitation to debate, inquiry, and discovery. In the social context of the author's classroom, students share their personal responses to literary texts; consider the responses, understandings, and questions of others; identify and evaluate authors' craft and literary techniques; explore issues, insights, and multiple perspectives; and construct meanings individually and together. To help teachers create similarly rich opportunities for their students, the book addresses specific teaching topics ranging from the selection of books for reading aloud, to the art of questioning, to an extended description of a thematic literary unit. Each of the seven chapters also includes excerpts from literary discussions occurring as part of cumulative literary experiences that the author developed for and with her students. Appendixes include a children's literature bibliography and a professional resources bibliography, each organized in categories. (Contains 69 references.) (NKA)