Book excerpt: The authors allow students and faculty to speak in their own voices to tell the story of how teachers are prepared for their important roles as educators of the nation's children. This book provides in-depth, personal descriptions of how elementary teachers are prepared in six diverse schools and colleges of education, ranging from the program in a small liberal arts college to those embedded in major research-oriented universities. The richly woven descriptions (gained through intensive observations and interviews) provide a balanced picture of the situation and context of teacher education today. Howey and Zimpher conclude the descriptions with an insightful cross-institutional analysis of the problems and issues uncovered and suggest a provocative set of characteristics that appear to contribute to an effective program of teacher education.