PERFECT FOR THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR, CARE GIVER AND PARENTS ALIKE, Peak With Books shows how to use popular children’s literature to build reading, writing, and cognitive skills in an inquiry-based environment. Instead of using a "skill and drill" approach, the authors employ conversations, questions, and, meaning-based activities to stimulate children’s curiosity, confidence, and thirst for knowledge. The authors’ balanced literacy program teaches strong reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. To develop those skills, each chapter’s central storybook is accompanied by strategies that employ art, music, drama, finger rhymes, poetry, math and science activities. Graphics and children’s presentations illustrate how research and discovery through fiction can enliven whole-class and individually directed projects.