Introduction : the wound of reading calls us home
pt. I. The power of reading aloud
1. Why we must read to and with our children
2. The four keys to helping your child become a lifelong reader
3. Supporting your child's reading life : frequently asked questions
pt. II. What to read aloud at every age
6. The chronological "when" : the reader's ladder
Birth to age two : beginning the magical journey
Two to three years old : leaping toward understanding
Four years old : loving the story
Five years old : balancing challenge and comfort
Six years old : forging connections
Seven years old : opening up to the world
Eight years old : creating ideas
Nine years old : asking questions, shaping answers
Ten years old : exploring new horizons
pt. III. The emotional "when" : fifty essential themes
7. How to make the best use of the fifty themes
8. The fifty themes : all the best books for the moments that matter most
Appreciating the natural world
Becoming someone who loves to write
Building the world of family
Building, making, and creating : the world of mechanical things
Building peace, confronting war, and talking with your child about world events
Bullying and hurtful people
The challenges and joys of siblings
The complexity of sharing
Creating theater : making plays and scenes together
Cultivating a sense of time and place
Feeling a sense of justice : changing the world
Loving words and language
Making friends/friendship
The power of grandparents
The value of your imagination
Conclusion : blueberries, silvery moons, and a purple plastic purse
