The text is designed to be visually appealing through the use of numerous photographs and other graphics that illustrate points made in the text, stimulate critical thinking, and teach students to read visual materials. "Making Meaning "is recursive, giving the opportunity in each chapter for students to practice and integrate skills learned from previous lessons and apply those reading strategies to many kinds of texts. Balance of phonics instruction and whole language. Highly visual design. Steps to make meaning of what is read.