At Preschool Readers, we know various factors affect a child’s learning process. To remain up to date and informed on best practices, we have an Expert Interviews series. In this series, we interview experts who provide tips/tricks and suggestions for parents of preschoolers. We hope you enjoy our interview with Ashley Tadayeski, Author.

Name & Job Title: Ashley Tadayeski, author of the Max & Leo Adventures series, “Do You Want to Come to the Zoo With Me?” and “Do You Want to Come to the Farm With Me?” (I am also a mom of two boys – 7 and 5, and in my professional life, I am a Corporate Business Strategist.)

How Can Parents Successfully Introduce Their Young Child To Books: Start reading to them as soon as you take them home from the hospital! When they are more mobile, make books accessible throughout the house. They’ll be able to see the variety and pick the books they are interested in. 

Tips For Choosing The Best Books For Preschoolers: I’m a big fan of mixing books that I choose with those that my kids choose.  With a blend of fiction/non-fiction, different topics, and a variety of different formats, they will find books they actually want to read. 

What Is Your Number One Tip For Ensuring Bedtime Storytime Success:  I think most people’s first response to this question would likely be to find a book that’s calm and soothing, which may work for many children… however, I have two sons who, without fail, have always had one last wave of energy that needs to get out before bedtime! So we tend to find books that are informational and engaging…My younger son loves to read about dinosaurs in bed, and my oldest will zone out reading about wildlife and the outdoors. These non-fiction books seem to give them a dose of brain activity before bed. (And if they read my books, there’s usually a little bit of physical activity that comes along with it, from standing like a flamingo to pretending to be a rooster! If it helps them get their energy out and sleep better, I’m totally fine with it!)

How Does Being Read To From An Early Age Affect A Preschooler’s Learning Process: I strongly believe that being read to assists in a preschooler’s want and willingness to learn. A preschooler’s brain is like a blank canvas, and by reading different stories to them, you’re introducing a plethora of new words and concepts to them. They will recognize what they are interested in and want to learn more about. 

In Honor Of National Reading Awareness Month – Share Your Top 3 Fun Ways To Celebrate: Dress up as your favorite book character, create a scene from a book with a shoe box or Play Doh, and most recently, we make a fort in the middle of the living room, fill it with books, snacks, and pillows, and just hang out for an afternoon!

And Just For Fun… What Is One Word You Would Use To Describe Yourself As a Preschooler: Shy!

Can You Share A Bit About The Max and Leo Adventures Books – And Why You Created This Series? When reading books with my little guys, we would always have to flip back through pages because they had so many questions about the pictures in the book – “Who is that person?”, “What is that doing there?”, or “Why does this look like that?” I created this book series with that budding curiosity in mind. The main characters are children who go on everyday adventures, speak directly to the reader, and excitedly describe what’s going on around them. They even add in some fun facts that will hopefully stick for a lifetime! Max has visited the zoo and the farm in the books that are out now, but we have plans for 4 more books in the series – Max and Leo will visit the fire station next, Leo will visit the aquarium and the Dino park, then Max and Leo will head to the construction site together!

How Can Parents Connect With You & Where Can They Purchase Your Books: Instagram: @maxandleobooks and www.maxandleobooks.com (Here you will be able to click on the book you are interested in and get direct links to purchase the book from a variety of worldwide retailers, like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Waterstones, etc!)