How would you like to spend a picturesque summer exploring old houses, enjoying the marvels of nature, and making new friends? Take the whole family on a vicarious summer adventure in the Gone-Away Lake series by Elizabeth Enright—it’s a complete and utter delight, perfect for read-aloud.

If you were thinking about trekking to the Himalayas to hang out with a yak, you can change your travel plans because our ABC Letter Craft brings this friendly beast right to your backyard! We’re sure you’ll give this letter Y craft two hooves up!

Here’s What You’ll Need

• 2 sheets of printer paper
• Card stock (we used dark brown, white, green, tan, and blue)
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Zippedy-doo-dah–the letter Z rounds out our ABC Letter Craft series! And nothing will put a zip in your preschooler’s step like our zany little zebra, ready to zigzag his way into your child’s heart. But there’s about a zillion stripes to put on, so you may need to catch some Zs when you’re done!

Here’s What You’ll Need

• 2 sheets of printer paper
• Card stock (we used black, white, and purple)
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Thanks to her masterful ability to capture the essence of childhood, Beverly Cleary’s books have sold over 90 million copies and have delighted readers for over 65 years. If you haven’t yet made the acquaintance of Cleary’s charming Henry Huggins, you’re in for a special treat!

Eleanor Estes once said that, as a writer, she hoped to reflect “the true image of childhood.” And she did just that in the nearly twenty books she authored over a period of forty-six years, including the much-loved series about the charming Moffat family.

We’re all different, but encouraging children to embrace their differences and the differences of others isn’t always easy. Picture books can help! Here are some of my favorite picture books that celebrate differences.

Did you know that your child can have 20/20 vision yet still have trouble reading text?

Undiagnosed vision problems are quite common. In fact, experts¹ estimate that 1 in 10 children has a vision issue that affects learning. Here at All About Learning Press, parents regularly share stories with us that prompt us to suggest vision testing.

Did you know that All About Reading and All About Spelling are great options for schools when students are taught one-on-one or in small groups?

Both programs are used in a variety of educational settings in public and private schools. Many schools use the programs in their RTI (Response to Intervention) programs, including Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions.

Author Jeanne Birdsall once said that her ideal book would include “loving families and siblings that got along.” This sentiment essentially summarizes Birdsall’s delightful quartet of volumes that make up the bestselling Penderwicks series.

Beloved for generations, the Ramona series by Beverly Cleary captures all the complexities of childhood and presents them with warmth, humor, and an unfailing sense of optimism. Ramona chapter books offer widespread appeal as engaging chapter books for young readers or as read-alouds for the entire family.

Do you have a bookworm in your house? A bookworm would rather read than sleep, and a bookworm walks down the sidewalk with his nose buried in a book. If that sounds like someone you know, this list is for you. We’ve got books about libraries, books about books, and books about people who love books! So grab your book lover and your library card and enjoy a few of these picture books for bookworms!

Alphabet picture books are an amazing category of books! Not only do they come in a multitude of child-friendly themes, they are wonderful for increasing letter knowledge, building vocabulary, and developing phonological awareness. And you can do all of that while snuggling up together on the couch!