The elementary school literature curriculum reflects the expectations at district, school, and classroom levels. Literature is a tool for teaching communication and for transporting its readers to times and places otherwise beyond reach. Three approaches evident when children interact with children's literature include top-down/reader-based, bottom-up/text-based, and an integrated/balanced perspective. It is important for elementary children to be surrounded by text and given the opportunities to engage with those words both independently and with guided practice. In addition, balance should be sought among genres, reader stance, and formats. This topic has special considerations when working with gifted, creative, and talented elementary students, which is discussed later in this entry.