This article pairs books from a variety of social and cultural perspectives with activities that meld literacy and math concepts related to counting, shapes, measurement, classifying, and patterning.

When planned, implemented, and individualized to meet children’s strengths and needs, inclusive practices can lead to positive outcomes for all children in the form of increased access, membership, participation, friendships, and support.

In this article, we will explore what is known about using mentor texts in the early childhood classroom and provide suggestions for how to effectively choose and use them in kindergarten instruction.