Organic vocabulary is a term that describes a child's inner source of thoughts. Based on the early work of Sylvia Ashton-Warner in New Zealand with Maori children, organic vocabulary can help promote early literacy among children who have little connection and prior experiences with print. This book connects the early research and methodology to today's classrooms. These connections are applied to Title 1 schools (indicating low socioeconomic status), second language learners, and children with multiple levels of ability and adverse risk factors.

Kathy Fox is a teacher educator at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. She spent the first twenty-four years of her professional life as a preschool, kindergarten, and first-grade teacher in California.

Chelsey Bahlmann has taught first and third grades in North and South Carolina. She is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Georgia in reading, writing, children's literature, and digital literacy.

Joy Foster Hughes is an elementary school teacher. She has a bachelor of arts in elementary education and a master's degree in language and literacy education from the University of North Carolina Wilmington and is certified in academically and intellectually gifted education. She has taught second and third grades in general education and kindergarten through fifth grades in AIG education.

Melissa Milstead is a kindergarten teacher in Wilmington, North Carolina, and has taught first grade as well. She received a bachelor of arts in elementary education and a master's degree in language and literacy education from the University of North Carolina Wilmington.