Learning to read should be easy and effortless, but in schools today it often is not. Why is this so? In his characteristically readable and provocative style, Frank Smith examines these and other questions, and provides answers. The author of over 20 books on reading, writing, thinking, and learning, Frank Smith is an acknowledged world leader in clarifying critical issues for teachers. In his latest book, he addresses questions that he is frequently asked at workshops and conferences about learning, prediction, phonics, stories, meaning, writing, and the brain, including: * What"s the connection between reading and writing? * Are some kinds of reading preferable to others? * Which is better for reading, books or computers? * Is reading aloud different from silent reading? * Why are stories so important? * How would you teach punctuation? * Is it important for young children to learn the letters of the alphabet?