Jumping into Kindergarten

Starting kindergarten represents a major milestone in the lives of young children (and their parents!). It’s an important step into the unknown that, while exciting, can also be the cause of nervous anticipation for everyone involved. The good news is that it doesn't have to be scary! Today's technology-driven world is complex and changing rapidly. As it does, the expectations of what our children need to know when they enter kindergarten have changed as well. There is growing anxiety around how to define and instill a new and improved set of school-readiness skills that will best help them to succeed.In this fun, creative story from best-selling authors Julia Cook and Laura A. Jana, parents and educators can more clearly understand the important connection that exists between everyday behaviors and the foundational development of valuable, 21st century life-skills during early childhood. This book also includes creative, practical tips to implement these skills in the home and classroom.Follow Roo as he figures out how to use and apply his amazing "QI" (pronounced key) skills: ME, WE, WHY, WILL, WIGGLE, WOBBLE, and WHAT IF. I love to move around and explore, so my favorite skill is WIGGLE. I can jump into things, and reach for the stars. And bend and stretch and jiggle! With his backpack of "super cool" skills and a head full of questions, Roo is excited to jump into kindergarten, and your children will be too! As a Preschool, Young 5's, and Kindergarten teacher for the last 16 years, I have not come across a book that get's it like this one. Children who come into kindergarten with these skills will be more confident and parents will feel more at ease. --Dawn Luckritz This book beautifully captures what we all know to be true - that who our children become is as important as what they know. --Jo Kirchner - CEO, Primrose Schools A must-read for all children getting ready to start kindergarten...amazingly fun and engaging book that also teaches key skills that will be critical to their success in both kindergarten and life! --Dr. Tanya Remer Altmann Pediatrician Editor-in-Chief of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Birth to Five

Julia Cook, MS is a national award winning children's author, counselor and parenting expert. She has presented in over 800 schools across the country, regularly delivers keynote addresses at national education and counseling conferences, and has published over 70 children’s books. The goal behind all of Julia's books and efforts is to actively involve young people into her fun and creative stories and teach them to become life-long problem solvers. Inspirations for her books come from working with children and carefully listening to parents and teachers. Dr. Laura A. Jana is a pediatrician and nationally acclaimed parenting book author who currently holds a faculty appointment at Penn State University's Prevention Research Center. Having first gained national recognition through her work with world-renowned pediatrician, Dr. Benjamin Spock, she has more than two decades experience working with parents, early educators, news media, academia, government organizations, non-profits and corporations alike. Her recently released parenting book, The Toddler Brain: Nurture the Skills Today That Will Shape Your Child’s Tomorrow, is responsible for introducing the fundamentally important concept of QI Skills and conveying the powerful role parents/caregivers play in their development during the foundational first 5 years.