Dear Parents, From the moment of their birth, we suddenly recognize the many responsibilities we have to our children as their first and most important teachers. We are overjoyed to see our babies' first smiles, coos, and movements and do all that we can to encourage them. In stimulating these positive interactions, we motivate our children to communicate. It is during these early "conversations" that we set the building blocks for literacy. Simple sounds lead to words, and these words help foster our children's imaginative ideas and questions. Reading to your baby is one of the best ways to enhance vocabulary so that your child begins to use words as building blocks for more complex and exciting ideas. Designed so you can share interactive moments together, Sesame Beginnings is a pre-literacy book program containing five levels created to entertain and engage your child. Each book features bright, bold illustrations plus short, simple text that's just right for your child's curious mind. In addition, each book features parenting tips on the back cover, suggesting simple ways to build your child's language and interest in reading during everyday routines—by playing games, talking, and singing. Recent research conducted by Sesame Workshop and funded by The Prudential Foundation has shown the importance of reading to your baby from the start, and that Sesame Beginnings books are just right to lay the groundwork for your baby's language development. So start your child's journey on the right street with Sesame Beginnings. Remember that it's never too early for your child to learn! Happy reading together! Rosemarie T. Truglio, Ph.D. Jeanette Betancourt, Ed.D. Sesame Workshop, Education and Research   © Sesame Workshop. "Sesame Street" and its logo are trademarks of Sesame Workshop. All rights reserved.