This popular text, now in its third edition, 'unpackages' the various dimensions of literacy - linguistic (the nature of language, oral-written language relationships, and language variation); cognitive (constructive nature of perception, the reading process, understanding written discourse, and the writing process); sociocultural (literacy as social practices, and authority of written discourse); and, developmental (constructing the written language system) - and at the same time accounts for the interrelationships among them. Distinguished by its examination of literacy from a multidimensional and interdisciplinary perspective, it provides a strong conceptual foundation upon which literacy curriculum and instruction in school settings can be grounded. "Dimensions of Literacy" links theory and research to practice in an understandable, user-friendly manner; provides in-depth coverage of the various dimensions of literacy; and, includes demonstrations, hands-on activities, authentic reading and writing events that reflect key concepts, and tables and figures that summarize the concepts. Changes in the third edition: provide more clearly focused discussion on the nature of language and addresses the role of various other sign systems in reading and writing; cover new research on eye movements and miscue analysis (EMMA) and reading fluidity (i.e., flow); expand the discussion of bilingualism and biliteracy through the book; extend the discussion of new literacies/multiliteracies/multimodal literacies; and, include updated references throughout the entire book.