Here in one big lap book is everything a child AND his or her parent needs to know before the first day of preschool! The stories, poems, and activities involve not only basic early learning concepts--letters and early phonics, numbers and counting, shapes, colors, opposites, etc.--but also address important aspects of socialization--making friends, sharing, taking turns, cooperating, getting dressed, going to the potty, saying good-bye without tears. And for the parent, who is often as anxious about preschool as the child, the author has included extensive Notes to the Parent showing how to best use each entry in the book. Authoritative and brimming with bright, lively illustrations, this book makes getting ready for preschool a happy adventure!

Author Biography

Anna Jane Hays has had firsthand experience with seven preschoolers-her own two children and five grandchildren-as well as over 30 years experience in creating educational picture books, storybooks, and print activity books for preschoolers. She joined the Children's Television Workshop in 1970 and used her creativity and expertise to help develop publishing based on Sesame Street, the then-new, innovative, PBS preschool educational television series. She was first managing editor of the Sesame Street magazine start-up and developed original Sesame Street Book publishing in partnerships with Golden Press and Random House. After 29 years at Sesame Street, she retired as Vice President/Editor in Chief of Book Publishing at Children's Television Workshop. Hays continues her work in children's publishing and has since published several storybooks and picture books with Random House, including "Silly Sara," "The Pup Speaks Up," and several other Step Into Reading and Sesame Workshop titles. Hays received her AA at Stephens College, Columbia, MO, and her BA in Honors English at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM. She then pursued a variety of post-graduate academic studies, including writers workshops at New York University and Columbia University.The author of numerous books for both US and European publishers, Hays continues her work in children's publishing as an editor, writer, and consultant. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. True Kelley is the author and illustrator of more than 100 children's books, including Who Was Pablo Picasso?, Who Was Abigail Adams?, and Hazel Nutt, Mad Scientist, winner of the Golden Duck Award for Best Children's Illustrated Book. She lives in Warner, New Hampshire, with her husband, fellow writer Steven Lindblom.