This book forms part of the colourful Smart-Kids write & wipe series created by practising South African Early Childhood Development educators. The books are designed to help preschoolers (3 - 5 years) develop key concepts and to make sure children learn to write and draw in the correct way to support their learning later on.

Find out how a forest is made in this beautiful picture book written by Waterstones award-winning Sally Nicholls and illustrated by rising star Carolina Rabei. Who makes a forest? A wizard, a giant, an emperor? Come on a walk with Grandpa to discover how a forest is made, and see how a thousand tiny things can come together to change the face of the earth... Poetically written by award-winning Sally Nicholls and beautifully illustrated by Carolina Rabei, this gorgeous book features a non-fiction section about the different types of forests around the world, their importance to our ecosystem and the impact of deforestation on our planet.

Since children develop the critical language and early reading skills necessary to enter kindergarten between birth and age five, reading aloud is one of the most influential steps librarians, teachers, parents, and caregivers can take to foster pre-schoolers' literacy skills. Early exposure to books heavily influences vocabulary knowledge, which in turn improves later reading skills and helps foster lifelong literacy. Highlighting more than 300 birth-kindergarten titles, Bailey offers A hand-picked selection of quality books adeptly chosen to help develop crucial literacy skills such as expressive and receptive language, expanded vocabularies, narrative skills, print awareness, the ability to understand written language, awareness of story structure, alphabetic knowledge, and phonological sensitivity Thorough annotation of each title, including a full bibliographic record, a short summary, and journal reviews Chapters organised by type of book, from wordless picture books and toy books to rhyming books and finger plays A list of additional resources helpful for building a core collection Valuable for regular use by caregivers as well as for collection development, this book spotlights hundreds of titles that are engaging and fun for reader and pre-schooler alike.

Whether you've been presenting baby story times for fifteen years or fifteen minutes, you probably already know that the first five years of life are key for brain development and early literacy. Many public libraries have instituted baby and toddler programs, but finding exciting materials for baby story time that go beyond nursery rhymes can be a challenge. Baby Storytime Magic is a treasure trove of new and exciting ideas for programs, all of which revolve around themes from a baby's world. Inside this resource you'll find Finger plays, bounces, flannel boards, activities with props, songs, American Sign Language activities, and more, with items arranged by type of material Tips for planning story times, with advice on logistical issues such as age grouping, scheduling, formats, and physical setup Guidance on involving caregivers in baby story times, including suggested scripts for explaining the benefits of each activity and how to use it at home Age-appropriate book recommendations Information on the stages of early childhood development, plus an appendix of recommended additional resources A thematic index to find the right story time quickly Links to full-sized, downloadable flannel board patterns, craft patterns, and worksheets Packed with ready-to-use activities, reducing prep time substantially, this book is a valuable early literacy tool for every children's librarian.