What happens when children in creative, Reggio-like preschools go to a more traditional elementary school? In this book, William Corsaro and his Italian co-author, Luisa Molinari, tell a complete and important story about the lives of children as they grow from young preschoolers to preadolescents in Modena, Italy. The authors both fully explore and participate in the rich, complex history and development of the Italian early education system. This compelling ethnographic study: * Documents how young children in Italy are prepared, or primed, for the transition from preschool to elementary school. * Examines how the transition relates to academic and social development, including details about the children’s school and peer cultures before, during, and after the transition. * Includes interviews with parents, teachers, and children, engaging anecdotes, and examples of children’s art and literacy projects. * Suggests dramatically different approaches that schools and communities can take to support children’s and families’ development and learning.