Choosing a school is arguably one of the most important decisions parents make as their children grow from the preschool years into formal schooling. Over the course of a child's K-12 education, they spend thousands and thousands of hours in their school context; it is safe to say that a school has a profound influence on our children. Nowadays, there are so many factors for parents to consider as they seek to make the best schooling choices for their children. For many, there are myriad opportunities--private schools, public schools, and robust homeschooling options.

Many parents associate reading issues such as dyslexia with the first years of formal schooling, Kindergarten, first, and second grades. This is the time when children typically begin systematically learning to read through phonics and high-frequency words, so it stands to reason that this is also the time when reading challenges surface. This is a common misunderstanding of dyslexia; in reality, dyslexia can begin to present itself in preschool-aged students as early as age three. Early identification of and intervention for specific learning challenges can serve to set students up to be successful readers as they progress through their education. And an understanding of how the brain works and what to look for in a child’s literacy development can serve to empower parents (and educators) in supporting a student’s growth as a reader. 

Not all picture books are created equal. Though I cannot claim as many years of parenting as others can (currently in my eighth year of parenting littles), I have had enough time and experience to develop strong opinions about picture books. I've read some with my kids that have wonderful illustrations, some that teach history, others that promote diversity, and still others that foster friendship. Kids' books range from informative to artsy, serious to silly, heartwarming to thought-provoking. There are lots of amazing picture books, and there are also some I would (personally) place in the "not so great" category for one reason or another.