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This book brings together whole language and critical pedagogy, reading each in terms of the other and providing a new and politically valuable synthesis of the two. A related aim of this volume is to bring together the community of whole language educators with educators who identify themselves with racial, ethnic, and other groups historically positioned as "minorities." The book thus develops a rich interrogation of whole language education from multiple perspectives. After a foreword by Bess Altwerger and Elizabeth R. Saavedra, essays in the book are: "On Critical Whole Language Practice: Why, What, and a Bit of How" (Carole Edelsky); "Understanding and Transforming the Meaning of Our Lives through Poetry, Biographies, and Songs" (Cecilia M. Espinosa and Karen J. Moore);"Exchanging Ideas and Changing Positions: The Importance of Conversation to Holistic, Critical Endeavors" (Marie Elaine Boozer, Lisa Burley Maras, and Bill Brummett); "'Si Se Puede!' Teaching for Transformation" (Rebeca Garcia-Gonzalez, Pilar Mejia, and Winnie J. Porter); "Critical Literacy in a Fourth-Grade Classroom" (Maria Sweeney); "Teaching without Charisma: Involving Third Graders as Co-investigators of Their Inner-City Neighborhood" (Paul Skilton-Sylvester); "A Conversation about Critical Literacy" (James Albright, Susan M. Church, Sue Settle, and Vivian Vasquez); "The Quality of the Question: Probing Culture in Literature-Discussion Groups" (Cynthia Lewis); "Third Class Is More Than a Cruise-Ship Ticket" (Beverly Busching and Betty Slesinger); "Critical Literacy: Teaching Reading, Writing, and Outrage" (Linda M. Christensen); "Schooling for Gangs: When School Oppression Contributes to Gang Formations" (Ramon A. Serrano); "Probing the Invisible Life of Schools" (Bill Bigelow); "Stories of a Liberatory Pedagogy" (Rebecca Jarvis); "Leadership as Critical Practice: A Work-in-Progress" (Susan M. Church); "Transformative Learning through a Study Group" (Elizabeth R. Saavedra); "Literacy Education as a Site for Social Justice: What Do Our Practices Do?" (Barbara Comber and Helen Nixon). (EF)