This booklet offers practical, up-to-date information on early childhood literacy for those who interact with young children. Topics addressed by the booklet include: (1) supportive learning environments; (2) learning to talk; (3) optimizing learning; (4) supporting the literacy development of young children; and (5) fundamental principles for literacy learning. Discussion in this latter area focuses on literacy beginning with talking and listening, ideas for activating imagination, ideas for promoting talk in early childhood settings, reading as comprehension, cueing systems, ideas for promoting reading in early childhood settings, recommended authors, writing as a powerful form of human expression, and ideas for promoting writing in early childhood settings. (Contains 13 references.) (EV)