Guest editorʹs introduction

There is a literacy gap between rich and poor nations, and educators attempting to close this gap face several intractable problems. Inadequate resources and the lack of qualified teachers are compounded in many cases by the requirement that children are expected to learn in a foreign language. The theme of the chapters in this issue is that considerable progress can be made if teachers are provided with a supply of high-interest illustrated story books, and shown how to use them constructively. The use of the Shared Book or Shared Reading method, coupled with regular silent reading, greatly increases the amount of “comprehensible input” that pupils receive, and helps them to master the language. A brief narrative summary of the chapters in this issue is provided.