Where Does the Wind Go? (page 4)

• Before you read the poem, talk with your child about how we know when it's windy, even though we can't see the wind.
• After you've read the poem, ask your child, Who was speaking in this poem? If your child needs help, reread the last line and then look together at the illustration.

Is the wind like a squirrel, a boat, or me? Even young children can understand and talk about the similes in this poem. And if your child is able to recognize rhyming words, reread the text and ask him or her to listen for the words that rhyme.

*Literacy: Book Knowledge & Appreciation (Shows a growing interest in listening to and discussing a variety of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.)

*Literacy: Phonological Awareness (Progresses in recognizing matching sounds and rhymes in poems.)

Sounds Like Maple Syrup (pages 25 to 28)

• The illustrations in this story show how maple syrup is made. Before reading the story, talk with your child about what's happening in each scene.
• The text describes the sounds you might hear if you were tapping sugar maple trees and boiling the sap to make syrup. After reading the story, go back and help your child find each "sound" word.

After you've read this story, perhaps you and your child can make pancakes and pour on the maple syrup!

*Language Development: Speaking & Communicating (Progresses in ability to initiate and respond appropriately in conversation and discussions with peers and adults.)

*Science: Scientific Knowledge (Expands knowledge of and ability to observe, describe, and discuss the natural world, materials, living things, and natural processes.)

Help Little Bunny Celebrate Spring (bonus pages)

• Be sure to read "Little Bunny Celebrates Spring" (pages 20 to 24) before you play this game. Then, as you play, have your child use the illustrations to retell the story.
• Help your child count aloud as she moves her playing piece from one space to the next. This helps develop a basic understanding of one-to-one correspondence—an important
  early math skill.

Learning to play with others is an important developmental milestone of the preschool years. Playing games with adults or older siblings can help.

*Literacy: Book Knowledge & Appreciation (Demonstrates progress in the ability to retell stories from books and experiences.)

*Social & Emotional Development: Cooperation (Develops the ability to take turns in games and interact without being overly submissive or directive.)

*Early childhood standards based on the U.S. Head Start
Child Outcomes Framework.