For decades early childhood educators in high-quality programs have understood that the transition into reading and writing occurs naturally when young children are surrounded by opportunities to interact with print in ways that are meaningful to them. The original edition of More Than Letters, first published in 2001, showed teachers how to intentionally help children develop literacy skills through hands-on, play-based activities. Like the original edition, the Standards Edition is based on theory and research. It contains new chapters that specifically focus on developing the skills needed to decode literature and informational text. Expanded chapters include activities that target specific concepts included in national literacy standards.
About the Author: Sally Moomaw, EdD, is an associate professor of early childhood education at the University of Cincinnati. Much of her research and teaching is in the area of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education. She received her doctoral degree in special education from the University of Cincinnati in 2008 following a long career as a preschool teacher and as the associate director for professional development at the college's Arlitt Center. She is the author or coauthor of fourteen books on early childhood curriculum, including the More Than series, Lessons from Turtle Island, and Teaching STEM in the Early Years. She designed a Mathematics Tool Kit for the Ohio Department of Education to help teachers implement state content standards and has presented numerous workshops for colleges, school districts, and conferences throughout the country. She also holds a bachelor's degree in music and a master's degree in child development, both from the University of Cincinnati.

Brenda Hieronymus is an early childhood education specialist and adjunct instructor at the Arlitt Child and Family Research and Education Center at the University of Cincinnati, where she teaches young children from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, develops and implements state-of-the-art curriculum materials, mentors practicum students, and teaches college courses. Brenda was named the Teacher of the Year in 1999 by the Ohio Association for the Education of Young Children. She is the coauthor with Sally Moomaw of the More Than series.