Created especially for children who are learning to read, this anthology contains renowned works featuring some of the best-loved characters in children's literature, including Else Holmelund Minarik and Maurice Sendak's Little Bear, Arnold Lobel's Frog and Toad, and the madcap creations of Dr. Seuss. Also included is poetry by Eve Merriam, Lilian Moore, and Gwendolyn Brooks, as well as stories, poems, riddles, and word games. An American Bookseller Pick of the Lists.

When fourth-grade Katie turns into her unfair track coach, she gives all the members of the team a chance to compete, including the slowest runner in her class.

Give your child an advantage that lasts a lifetime Ready, Set, Read is a complete, proven, fun and affordable phonics-based program that anyone can use to teach a child to read. Developed by reading specialist Vera Clark - based on her 25 years of experience teaching children and adults to read English - Ready, Set, Read takes a child from learning the alphabet to reading fluently at a 6th grade level in just 100 simple lessons. Parents: You Can Teach Your Child to Read Ready, Set, Read makes it easy for you to unlock a world of opportunities for your child. Put your child on the path to success with this easy-to-use program that you and your child will both love. -Get everything you need in one book - Lessons and instructions are all in one volume, so there's just one thing to grab when you and your child are ready to enjoy the day's lesson. -Experience the joy of teaching your child to read - Ready, Set, Read is designed to accommodate your busy schedule. -Watch your child gain confidence - Your quality time together will produce dramatic results. Educators: Your Students Can Be Reading Fluently Ready, Set, Read enhances your ability to teach every student in your class to read. Research shows that systematic phonics instruction combined with reading is the most effective way to develop good reading skills. This easily adabtable program: -Compliments your existing standards-based curriculum -Requires minimal lesson preparation time -Includes a Student Success Chart so you can track the progress of each student Why choose Ready, Set, Read? -All-in-one phonics-based reading program -100 simple lessons-only 15 minutes per day -Starts at the beginning, from non-reader to total fluency -Students learn at their own pace Coming Soon in the Winter of 2010: Ready, Set, Read on DVD - Vera Clark teaches each lesson Children's Booklets- colorful, illustrated lessons make the learning process more enjoyable Leveled Storybook Readers - students practice reading with fun stories that use a controlled vocabulary based upon the lessons the student has completed. About the Author Author Vera Clark developed Ready, Set, Read based on her extensive experience teaching children and adults to read English. Having taught in both public and private schools, Vera currently teaches reading to Special Education students in Southern California. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, and a Master's in Education with an emphasis in Special Education. Ms. Clark loved home schooling her own children-and taught each of her four children to read when they were just toddlers. She is passionate about early reading, and is pleased that this book is helping parents and teachers introduce another generation of children to the joys of reading well.

Author shares her family's personal reading success stories and Identifies their favorite books for each age category. Extensive reading lists by titles and authors -- over 600 children's books referenced.

The invaluable grade-by-grade guide (kindergarten—sixth) is designed to help parents and teachers select some of the best books for children. Books to Build On recommends: • for kindergartners, lively collections of poetry and stories, such as The Children’s Aesop, and imaginative alphabet books such as Bill Martin, Jr.’s Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and Lucy Micklewait’s I Spy: An Alphabet in Art • for first graders, fine books on the fine arts, such as Ann Hayes’s Meet the Orchestra, the hands-on guide My First Music Book, and the thought-provoking Come Look with Me series of art books for children • for second graders, books that open doors to world cultures and history, such as Leonard Everett Fisher’s The Great Wall of China and Marcia Willaims’s humorous Greek Myths for Young Children • for third graders, books that bring to life the wonders of ancient Rome, such as Living in Ancient Rome, and fascinating books about astronomy, such as Seymour Simon’s Our Solar System • for fourth graders, engaging books on history, including Jean Fritz’s Shh! We're Writing the Constitution, and many books on Africa, including the stunningly illustrated story of Sundiata: Lion King of Mali • for fifth graders, a version of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream that retains much of the original language but condenses the play for reading or performance by young students, and Michael McCurdy’s Escape from Slavery: The Boyhood of Frederick Douglass • for sixth graders, an eloquent retelling of the Iliad and the Odyssey, and the well-written American history series, A History of US . . . and many, many more!