Abstract
Purpose Literature-based intervention is used to facilitate both early language and emergent literacy goals, which supports success in later reading and writing. Best practices in choosing picture books to facilitate specific goals are limited, but one line of research asserts that different genres align with different goals. However, metafiction is one genre that is yet to be explored as a context for facilitating emergent literacy goals. Metafiction uses a variety of devices to draw attention to itself as an artifact providing unique learning opportunities. The purposes of this clinical focus article are to (a) introduce the different devices authors use in metafictive writing, (b) correlate individual devices with specific foundational literacy goals targeted in therapy (i.e., oral language, phonological awareness, print awareness, and alphabet knowledge), and (c) provide a sample session. A variety of metafictive picture books will be offered to illustrate these connections.
Conclusion Metafictive picture books provide a rich context for facilitating emergent literacy goals because of the specific devices authors use in these texts.