B></U> Finally there exists a book that addresses grades four through eight exclusively! Beginning in the intermediate grade years and continuing on through the middle grades both the nature of literacy concerns and the nature of students change dramatically. It is at this time that school textbooks and other literacy tasks expand and broaden, so too do the development concerns for young adolescents. Promoting Literacy in the Intermediate and Middle Grades</U> is designed as a reference for pre-service and practicing classroom teachers in all subject areas of these grade spans as they take on increased responsibility for introducing, developing and maintaining literacy skills and abilities as well as establishing and maintaining classroom climates that promote and nurture students' literacy. Promoting Literacy in the Intermediate and Middle Grades</U> provides up-to-date research on a wide range of literacy concerns and then translates that research into practice through a series of chapters that focus on specific literacy issues. The text covers a wide range of topics of interest, from the role of the principal and what makes an effective literacy program, to specific characteristics of this age group (who they are) to instructional strategies for meeting their needs in the classroom (how to teach them). Well-known experts from the field of literacy education and intermediate and middle grades education have contributed chapters in their areas of expertise. The chapters are short, yet comprehensive, are reader friendly and reflect the most current thinking in the field. Most of the chapters include easy to follow sample lessons and classroom or school applications. This book is encyclopedic in nature, in that it contains a broad spectrum of topics that can be read cover to cover or used as a reference guide on issues of particular interest. For anyone interested in intermediate and middle school literacy.