Whether they're putting on a puppet show, acting out a fairy tale, or running an imaginary restaurant, preschoolers love to play. In fact, they thrive on it. In this full-color, photo-packed book, Bennett-Armistead shows how to harness play's power so children not only have fun, but also learn essential reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills that prepare them for conventional literacy instruction. She covers traditional toolsNpuppets and flannel boardsNand more innovative onesNliteracy kits, prop boxes, and theme trunksNproviding a range of options for infusing joy into the day and meeting curricular goals.