From the reviews:
"This carefully crafted book is full of insights and destined to become a classic work on early childhood arts education. The fifteen chapters not only enrich our understanding of the role and value of childhood experiences in the arts, but provide a powerful conceptual framework for developing arts education in schools and communities. It is an impressive summary of current scholarship and knowledge on the arts in early childhood, and a book that one puts down refreshed, and with a renewed sense of wonder about the many ways in which the arts can profoundly influence the lives of young children."
(Gary E. McPherson, School of Music and Music Education, The University of New South Wales)
"This collection of thought-full and thought-provoking articles is a "must" in the library of all educators, and especially those with an interest in the contribution of arts experiences to the socio-cultural and artistic development of children."
(Joan Russell, PhD., Faculty of Education, McGill University)
"This book is about getting down to the ‘basics' -art, poetry, music, dance and drama- that which comprises the most potent source of young children's learning, and permeates our understanding of culture, development theory and curriculum. Now is the time to look beyond the emergent phases in literacy or numeracy, to how one can emerge with well-developed ‘different selves'. The potential for learning in this book is vast-whether scribbling with crayons or producing videos-not just for the very young, but also for the reflective adult as teacher, researcher, policy developer or parent. This cornucopia of the most brilliant authors in the field, beautifully shaped by powerful arts advocates, Bresler and Thompson, engages us in meaningful debate on the arts and demands that we consider where and how and when real learning takes place."
(Regina Murphy, National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, Ireland)
Researchers and practitioners in education and various arts explore the role and significance of the arts in the education of children from ages three through eight. The 15 studies offer balanced coverage of the cultural contexts of early arts experiences, how children's abilities to participate in particular art forms develop and evolve, and art experiences that are artistically authentic and developmentally appropriate. They include literature as one of the arts. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
