Preschool and kindergarten educators know that strong oral language skills must be in place before children can learn to read. In Before They Read: Teaching Language and Literacy Development through Conversations, Interactive Read-alouds, and Listening Games, Cathy Puett Miller helps educators teach those early literacy skills with engaging games and activities that are based on her three big ideas for early literacy development: great conversations, good listening skills, and interactive read-alouds. Developed from Miller's successful work with families and early childhood educators around the country, Before They Read makes it easy to help every child move through the stages of literacy development at their own pace. Early childhood educators learn how to: Take advantage of the learn-through-play style of the preschool and kindergarten child; Play simple and effective games and activities that build core early literacy skills; and Engage a child in the experience of reading a picture book to target essential concepts. An essential guide for childcare professionals and preschool and kindergarten teachers, Before They Read supports educators from the first word games throughout the journey to reading from playing with sounds through advanced phonemic awareness skills.