Dear colleagues,

When my children were young, I relished reading books with them. There were many joyful moments of us looking at beautiful illustrations, pointing out interesting new words, and talking about how ideas in the books’ pages related to our own lives.

I knew these moments were nurturing my children’s literacy development, but I also knew they had other powers—the power to show my children new people, cultures, and ways of being and the power to reflect their own culture and experiences. Growing up, I rarely encountered a book that showed my identity as a first-generation Korean American. I wanted something different for my children—to see themselves in the landscape of the diverse books we read. So I actively looked for books that portrayed multiracial families and books that depicted Korean families. A few of our favorites were The Have a Good Day Café, by Frances Parker and Ginger Park, and Peach Heaven, by Yangsook Choi.

Developmentally appropriate practice recognizes the context in which children are growing and developing. This issue of Teaching Young Children is focused on literacy and language practices in preschool. It includes an article about creating a diverse collection of books and another about showcasing children’s lived experiences through alphabet books. Besides this issue, we encourage you to learn more about literacy and other areas of development through NAEYC’s books (like the recently published Literacy Learning for Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers: Key Practices for Educators), position statements, and other resources.

Thank you for looking to NAEYC as a source for your continued professional growth and learning.

In gratitude,

Michelle Kang
Chief Executive Officer