inform beginning reading instruction. We know from research that reading

Reading milestones

Scientific research can inform beginning reading instruction. We know from research that reading is a language-based activity. Reading does not develop naturally, and for many children, specific decoding, word recognition, and reading comprehension skills must be taught directly and systematically. We have also learned that preschool children benefit significantly from being read to. It's OK if your child can't sit still for an entire book — toddlers' attention spans will get longer soon.

Board Books

The category of Young Adult, or Y.A., books is a relatively recent invention, meant to specify books written both about and for teenagers. These books range from the lyrical and literary to the racy and News commercial, but they are all concerned with coming-of-age themes like navigating conflicts with authority or a first serious romantic relationship. These days, dark subjects like suicide and abuse are common. Many early readers use rhyme — it’s a way to give a fledgling reader a clue about what an unfamiliar word may be — but they don’t have to. Repetition and word patterning can be just as helpful. Every inch of a picture book is thought out, from the cover to the end papers.