Book Review

A Book Review of “Becoming Readers and Writers: Literate Identities Across Childhood and Adolescence”

Author

• • Tiffany Livingston Palmatier
  • University of South Carolina - Columbia

Abstract

This review of “Becoming Readers and Writers: Literate Identities Across Childhood and Adolescence” by Wagner and his colleagues explores how literacy identities are cultivated by drawing on various theoretical frameworks and methodologies to showcase the complexities of identity research across childhood and adolescence. Using my early childhood teacher lens, I place the development of literacy identities during children’s early years at the foreground of this review in acknowledgement of its existence and the actionable components needed to validate this pivotal stage of literacy and identity development. In the text, Chapter authors argue that literacy identity research during the early years must extend beyond phonics instruction, ensuring that meaning making is central for all learners. Assessment practices should be intentionally designed and contribute to literacy identity development. Lastly, the linguistic diversity of students should be recognized and operationalized in ways that support linguistic growth.

Keywords: Literacy, Identities, linguistic growth

How to Cite: Palmatier, T. L. (2026) “A Book Review of “Becoming Readers and Writers: Literate Identities Across Childhood and Adolescence””, Literacy Connections. 2(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.4148/litconnections.21174