Back to Dog-Gone School（Step into Reading, Step 2）

Dog lovers and kids anxious about going back to school will be delighted by this photographic Step 2 reader with school-themed poems!

From the bus stop to the last bell, the school day is covered. The easy-to-read poems were chosen and adapted from the delightful hardcover picture books Loose Leashes and Dog-Gone School, by husband-and-wife team Ron and Amy Schmidt. Plus there are a few new poems and photos, too! Which dog is your favorite?

Step 2 Readers use basic vocabulary and short sentences to tell simple stories, for children who recognize familiar words and can sound out new words with help.

AMY SCHMIDT has been writing children’s poetry and short stories for several years. She enjoys the challenge of finding just the right form and words for her poetry. Ron and Amy live in the Northeast with their two children, Rory and Tess, and their gigantic white dog. They enjoy spending time with their family and advocating for animal welfare and literacy causes. Visit them on the Web at looseleashes.com.

RON SCHMIDT’s first photo shoot, at age ten, was a wildlife expedition around his suburban New Jersey neighborhood. Armed with an old camera he’d received as a gift, Ron took pictures of his dog and some local squirrels. After studying photography in college, he worked with several high-fashion and celebrity photographers before opening his own studio. As a dog lover, Ron spends most days taking photographs of man’s best friend, but now he has a way better camera.