And when Sam came along, what could be more natural than to pass this sense of wonder on to him?A story of a lovely, tiny Stella, whose world is full of small adventures and slivers of magic.

    Grouped in four progressive levels, Read and Share books - available individually for the first time - are specially selected for qualities that encourage literacy skills and a love of reading.Sixteen top-quality books with notes for extending reading fun inspire the confidence parents and children need to experience the joys of reading . . . together. Plus an informative Parents’ Handbook!What is Read and Share?—An expert selection of sixteen high-quality picture books by superb authors and illustrators, featuring a multicultural array of subjects, including poetry and rhymes, traditional songs, stories, and information books —Four progressive levels - Beginnings, Early Steps, Next Steps, and Taking Off - each including four fabulous picture books—Two full spreads inside each book offering suggestions and activities inspired by the story, designed to help parents and children get the most out of each book - and build a foundation for reading success—A separate 24-page, full-color Parents’ Handbook providing extensive practical information and detailed answers to many of the questions parents ask about encouraging their children’s literacy

    Pearl breaks the big we-need-a-sandcastle problem into smaller steps, then uses conditionals, loops, and other basic coding concepts to tell Pascal exactly what to do. But building a sandcastle isn’t as easy as it sounds when surfboards, mischievous dogs, and coding mishaps get in the way! Just when it looks like the sandcastle might never work, Pearl uses her coding skills to save the day and create something even better: a gorgeous sandcastle kingdom!

    Sure, he may seem sweet as he snuggles a stuffed animal, but don’t let that fool you! When you least expect it, he’ll pounce…From beloved creator Isabelle Simler comes a sly, hilarious read sure to delight cat lovers of all ages.

    Biddlebox rolled overOn the wrong side of her bunk.Mrs. Biddlebox is having a really bad day. The birds are screeching, her belly is grumbling, and even her crumpets are stale. What is she to do? Then, suddenly, Mrs. Biddlebox has the most bewitching idea!With a pinch of magic and just the right amount of humor, Linda Smith and Marla Frazee have whipped up an enchantingly original tale that will charm anyone who's ever woken up on the wrong side of the bunk.

    . . “I want a friend to sit with me!”Two little hot dogs sitting on a chair . . . One by one, more little hot dogs join the group until . . . there are ten little hot dogs on the chair. They play and play until . . . they all fall asleep. But then, one little hot dog wakes up, and one by one, guess what the other hot dogs do? This funny picture book featuring artwork in watercolor and black pencil shows young readers how to count up from one to ten and back down from ten to one.

    All the geese, that is, except one. What could be his secret? While all the white fluffy geese clean themselves in the clear, clean pond, One Smart Goose chooses the dirty pond. "Why doesn't the fox ever chase you?" they demand. "Have you got a secret you're not telling us?" No, it's just that One Smart Goose knows that when the fox comes looking for dinner under a full moon, the white geese will shine and glow in the moonlight, while he will blend in.

    . . until one day when his fluttering takes him above the clouds and far away—maybe too far away! Lost in the sky, Little Wing has to find his way home. But thanks to a special someone, he learns the importance of dragon rules. And with a helping wing to guide him, Little Wing can be flip, flop, fearless!With Calista Brill’s sincere story and Jennifer A. Bell’s vibrant illustrations, Little Wing Learns to Fly is utterly convincing as a sweet coming-of-age tale. Fans of Finding Nemo and Giraffes Can’t Dance will love rooting for Little Wing as the little dragon that could.Children and adults alike will get carried away on Little Wing’s journey home!

    Mixing hilarious text and pictures, Rowboat Watkins, a former Sendak fellow, has cooked up a laugh-out- loud story that can also be served up as a delectable discussion starter about manners or bullying, as it sweetly reminds us all that even the rudest cake can learn to change its ways.

    This book is a retelling of Shakespeare's classic tragedy, 'Hamlet'.

    I Dreamed You gives a voice to the feelings so difficult to express and so important to share.Award-winning and beloved children's author Justine Avery thoughtfully, reverently expresses the sentiments behind welcoming a child into our lives, whether we're a grandparent, adopting parent, step-parent, sibling, or anyone else blessed with a cherished young one.

    This amusing riddle about Goo and Spot's amazing and colorful adventures will definitely hit a child's funny bone, with a valuable lesson learned along the way. A great resource for preschool educators, librarians and parents of wiggly little children. Best suited for ages 5 and under.

    What they do know is that treasures are shiny, mysterious and precious. And that all the really good treasures are hidden!As they explore the forest, their curiosity pays off when they find the biggest, shiniest, most mysterious and precious treasure hidden just over a hill.Told exclusively in dialogue, this beautifully illustrated picture book exudes a sense of wonder at the natural world and emphasizes the magical qualities of looking through a child's eye.Also available in French as Tr�sor, translated by the author, Mireille Messier.

    This groundbreaking, award-winning book endeavors to convey the experience of a person who can only see through his or her sense of touch, taste, smell or hearing.Raised black line drawings on black paper, which can be deciphered by touch, complement a beautifully written text describing colors through imagery. Braille letters accompany the text so that the sighted reader can begin to imagine what it is like to use Braille to read. A full Braille alphabet at the end of the book can be used to learn more.

    It's way too dangerous out there. He could encounter tarantulas, green Martians or killer bees. But in his tree, every day is the same and if danger comes along, he's well-prepared. Scaredy Squirrel's emergency kit includes antibacterial soap, Band-Aids and a parachute.Day after day he watches and waits, and waits and watches, until one day ... his worst nightmare comes true! Scaredy suddenly finds himself out of his tree, where germs, poison ivy and sharks lurk. But as Scaredy Squirrel leaps into the unknown, he discovers something really uplifting ...