Based on research gathered for the Home-School Study of Language and Literacy Development, vignettes of some 70 young children from diverse backgrounds reveal the importance of early parent-child and teacher- child interactions and children's kindergarten language and literacy skills. Suggestions are given for enhancing children's language and literacy development at home and at school. Dickinson is a researcher at the Center for Children and Families at the Education Development Center, Inc. Tabors is a researcher and instructor in the Human Development and Psychology Department at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)