This text uses short folk tales from Africa, Haiti, Australia, and Asia within a whole-language framework to help students improve their reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Ranging from about 200 to about 2,000 words, the selections are accompanied by prereading and postreading activities. The Rainmaker's Dog builds vital communication skills by using international folk tales to stimulate students' practice in the four skills. The text fosters communication skills through a literature-based reader-response approach and provides a wide range of group discussion and cooperative learning activities.