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As a literacy educator and director of an organization called LitLife, I have received calls and emails over the years from many moms, dads and grandparents asking me my advice about the best books to read aloud to their kids. Someone once said to me: "Pam, I had a baby and no one ever gave me a course on how to do any of this!" I think parenting is like this in so many ways: it is the one biggest thing you will do in your life that does not require any prerequisite, mandatory training of any kind, or a graduate degree! So you are in some ways on your own.

And yet, in another, beautiful way, you are not on your own at all. Your baby, your toddler, your school age child is right with you on this journey. Together, the reading experience is one of your first and possibly most important shared journeys of reward and discovery. Savor this together and join with your child on this most extraordinary exploration. Together you will have moments of transcendence, emotion and discovery through the pages of a beautiful book.

In writing my book, What to Read When, my dream was to offer you company along this profound journey, so that you feel less alone in searching for answers to your excellent questions. Libraries and bookstores are full of books, but there are millions of them and to match the right one with the right child at the right time is always a challenge, even for those of us in the field of education. I realized that many times when parents would call, they would preface their question with: "I just want to know what to read when..." And one day, I realized: "That's a great name for a book!" And so What to Read When was born.

I reread all my favorite children's books and read hundreds more to find you just the right books to share with children. I discovered new favorites and wept over old beloveds. Whether you are a parent, a grandparent, a teacher or a librarian or just someone who wants to connect with children in your life, the power of words will bring you there.

I have so much faith in the magic of great literature to forge relationships. I am constantly amazed at how children of all ages and adults alike come together around the power of story.

The challenge of a book that contains lists is that it will never contain each and every one of the books you personally love. But luckily we live in the era of technology where books don't have to end on the last page! Share your favorites with me so I can add them to our website and keep the list growing for everyone who wants to join in to create a worldwide read aloud movement that can change the lives of children everywhere.  Visit whattoreadwhen.com to join me on this awesome journey.

 Pam Allyn, What to Read When, Avery, Penguin Books