Nancy Hertzog

Young children are curious about the world around them. Let's Go to the Market , the third book in the Smart Start series for prereaders, fosters engaging conversations for parents and their children through the use of interactive questioning. Images in this book convey children and parents in a familiar shared experience: going to and exploring the market. Each image's corresponding questions prompt children to think at critical, creative, and mathematical levels about their everyday surroundings and activities. The open-ended questions stimulate curiosity and invigorate conversations between parents and children. Let's Go to the Market highlights the vast world of a child's imagination and encourages children to think deeply about the objects and situations they're faced with every day. Ages 3-5

Young children are curious about the world around them. Let's Play , the second book in the Smart Start series for prereaders, fosters engaging conversations for parents and their children through the use of interactive questioning. Images in this book convey children in realistic and familiar stages of play, and each image's corresponding questions prompt children to think at critical, creative, and mathematical levels about their everyday surroundings and activities. The open-ended questions stimulate curiosity and invigorate conversations between parents and children. Let's Play highlights the vast world of a child's imagination and encourages children to think deeply about the objects and situations they're faced with every day. Ages 3-5

Through the use of interactive questioning, Around My House , the first book in the Smart Start series for prereaders, fosters engaging conversations for parents and their children. Images in this book convey children in realistic and familiar settings around the house: in the kitchen, the playroom, the bedroom, the garage, and more. Around My House prompts children to think at critical, creative, and mathematical levels about their everyday surroundings, and the open-ended questions stimulate curiosity and invigorate conversations between parents and children. Around My House highlights the vast world of a child's imagination and encourages children to think deeply about the objects and situations they're faced with every day. Ages 3-5

With high demands being placed on kindergarten children to learn skills such as reading, writing, problem solving, and test taking ("The New First Grade," "Newsweek", Sept. 11, 2006), the academic expectations for preschool children naturally are increasing, as well. Ready for Preschool gives parents the support and strategies they need to implement activities to help stimulate learning and increase their child's knowledge before entering preschool. The author, a nationally recognized early childhood researcher and preschool director, also provides tips for preparing children emotionally and socially for school pressures and demands. Topics covered include school readiness, the relationship of the child to the school environment, behavior and emotional growth of preschool children, partnerships between home and school, and tips for parents for making the transition from home to school. The author also provides a unique section on what parents can do to provide a home environment that fosters learning in young children, including activities for increasing a child's learning through everyday tasks parents perform such as grocery shopping, cleaning a child's room, and cooking dinner. Further, the book includes a detailed discussion of the varying types of preschools available, along with helpful checklists, tips, and resources to aid any parent in preparing his or her child for entering preschool.