I am a former teacher.  One day I walked past a Kindergarten classroom and heard the teacher ask her students "who wants to read a book?" The children cheered with delight. One little girl hugged her book like a baby. A few halls down, in my third grade class, I asked the same question. But this time there was no cheering. Many of my students looked bored and nervous. I asked myself a simple question. What happened between Kindergarten and Third Grade? I began blending early literacy and music together to make it more engaging and accessible for all my students. I began writing stories that I hoped would help build a reading foundation for all students. Now my books are found in classrooms and homes across the country and world. And they have helped thousands and thousands of children learn to read and love books. That was my greatest hope.