Sounds & Vowels: Keys to Literacy Progress. (1999). By Susan Galletly. Literacy Plus, P.O. Box 8627, Mt. Pleasant, Queensland, Australia. Master book: 156 pages, $68.50; Student workbook: 64 pages, $14.50. Reviewed by Paula S. Currie, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond.

Sounds & Vowels: Keys to Literacy Progress provides practical strategies designed specifically for children with language-learning and reading disabilities. This book is one of a series being developed by Susan Galletly, a speech pathologist, teacher, and learning disabilities specialist in Australia. The author bases the books on the key principles of Systematic Literacy Learning: phonological processing, literacy information processing, metacognition, plain common sense, and absolutely compulsory fun. The skills and activities in this book are intended for beginning readers.

The Sounds & Vowels Master Book is divided into two parts. Part One explains learning disabilities and contributing factors related to the disorder. An overview of weaknesses in phonological awareness, working and long-term memory, and other contributing factors (e.g., attention deficit disorder, environmental factors, and task factors) is presented. The format of the activities are described and include: activity pages, information related to each activity, "Memory Stretching" activities, and "Understanding Why" with information that explains the activity's underlying concept using language that the student could understand. Information related to each activity includes: the aim, concepts, purpose, instructions, problem-solving questions, criteria for progressing to the Memory Stretching page, memory strategies, adaptations for changing the activity to make it less or more difficult, and simple theory. Nine mottoes (e.g., "Small is Beautiful," "Hurrah for Fat Happy Cups," "Give Filer His Instructions") are used throughout the activities to reinforce memory and metacognition. Part Two has four sections with student activities. The focus of the activities is single vowels (i.e., short vowels), vowel-consonant-e, and consonant blends. Game-like activities using real words and nonsense words comprise the majority of activities. The student contracts with the teacher to talk about the activity's concept, and the student earns a reward for successfully completing the contract. The author encourages the use of a token economy reward system to increase the student's motivation.

The Sounds & Vowels Student Workbook is divided into four sections: phonological awareness activities, words with vowels a-e-i-o-u, words with Bossy-e vowels, and words with consonant blends. The student completes the activity in the workbook-the pages are not perforated. Contracts, space for individualized instructional notes, and charts to track performance on the Memory Stretching activities are included for many of the activities. Citations on each activity page refer the teacher to information contained in the master book.

The author provides an overview of reading development and weaknesses related to reading disorders. Parents and professionals unfamiliar with reading theory and reading disabilities will find the information easy to read and understand. The information for each activity (e.g., aim, concepts, problem solving) is extensive and extremely valuable. Rarely do remedial or supplemental activities and workbooks contain information to help instructors understand the concept behind the activity, as well as help them adapt the activity to meet the student's level of learning. The activities and illustrations are targeted for young children and should only be used with this age group. Because students with reading problems have so much frustration related to their reading difficulty, they have little tolerance for drill and practice. Young students would enjoy the activities' game-like format, but the instructor would have to ensure carry-over of the skill taught in the activity to functional, connected reading experiences. The materials provide basic information to parents and instructors about reading and its disorders, and the activities provide young students a fun, stress-free way to practice the basic skills related to reading decoding.