Reading is the most important skill a young child learns. That is why more and more parents are supplementing their children's classroom learning with activities and exercises children can do at home to improve their skills. In response to an increased demand for beginning reading books, Houghton Mifflin Company is proud to announce the AlphaKids Guided Readers, which help parents support and encourage their children as they embark on the adventure of reading. AlphaKids Guided Readers consist of five levels of reading material of increasing difficulty, each made up of five books, a parent's guide, and an activity book -- all available in a colorful, easy-to-carry box. Each level offers the challenges that keep children excited about learning to read, and the series gradually increases the complexity of language, text format, and story structure to keep children interested. Each AlphaKids Guided Reading program features engaging, child-centered fiction and nonfiction books with full-color illustrations, a detailed, easy-to-use parent guide that tells parents how to use the books, and a "Make Your Own Book" full of skill-building exercises and activities for the child.