Most early childhood literacy specialists favor a rich emergent literacy effort but do not recommend a formal curriculum in reading. Statements like the following are common: "Few kindergartners are developmentally ready for reading on their own" (Snow, Burns, and Griffin, eds.,1998,p.82). However, we have had to wonder if questions about whether formal instruction is developmentally appropriate are grounded on beliefs that learning to read itself is inappropriate or are fueled by concerns that unpleasant curricular and instructional models might be employed in yet kindergarten. For example, while affirming rich emergent literacy programs, Pearson and colleagues (1998,p.9) comment. "The emphasis on pre-reading knowledge dose not mean, however, that our preschool and kindergarten curricular must be workbook-driven skill programs. "Such a comment appears to come from a concern that test-driven early childhood practice will devolve into a literacy boot camp mode. The concern is not without foundation; we can imaging all sort of rote-memory -based curriculum springing up. We see them at first-grade level in a good many school districts. We want the kindergarten/first-grade experience to be joyfully energetic.