“Increased academic pressures have forced many preschools and other programs for young children to engage in behaviors that those well versed in developmental appropriateness find troubling and ill-conceived. Yet as mandates to demonstrate student learning increase, many practitioners are not quite sure what to do. McNamee has provided a masterful blueprint grounded in theory and practice for those preschool teachers, administrators, and researchers who want to create learning spaces in which children are successful and supported. Organized into nine chapters, the book explores zones of proximal development, how acting out stories supports Common Core State Standards, ways to learn through stories, the introduction of storytelling and acting, changes in development, preparations for first grade, ways to stage stories, entry points for teachers, and classroom communities. The book is rich with examples and anecdotes, and McNamee presents a cogent and compelling picture of preschool programs serving low socioeconomic status students who achieve equity and excellence. . . . Highly recommended.”