This best-selling reader is designed to transition students from reading highly controlled elementary-level materials to appreciating authentic literature. Written primarily in the twentieth century by authors from Spain, Latin America, and the United States, the 29 short stories in "Album" appear in order of increasing difficulty. Many features, including generous notes and glosses and a range of varied activities, aid comprehension, encourage oral and written self-expression, and promote cooperative learning, as well as critical thinking about the selections.A range of practice reflects the readings, with varied exercises for each selection--from comprehension checks to directed, interpretive, and comparative writing assignments, as well as pair and small group activities.Two audio CDs, recorded by native speakers, feature dramatic readings of each selection in the Third Edition. Correlated to the dramatic readings, practice in the all-new "Audio" section assesses students' listening comprehension through a series of true/false questions.