Emphasizing the need to develop higher-level thinking skills and critical discussion with intermediate and middle school struggling readers, Williams uses quality children's literature as a springboard to help readers: understand and use descriptive vocabulary and figurative language, make personal connections with text, create and solve text related mathematical problems, promote an active, engaged discussion and critical analysis of the story and the important issues raised in text, extend meaning through research and writing, art, and drama. To help teachers match student to text,...