All the words a child needs to know for preschool in a big, busy, lapsized book from the experts at Merriam-Webster. Enter the world of Merriam-Webster's Ready-for-School Words and discover the people, places, and things in your community, and beyond! Featuring all the words a child should know before they start preschool, this charming book takes you from home, to the beach, the bank, the barber shop--all the way to outer space with objects clearly labeled and important terms defined in simple language. Children will start school with confidence and a brand-new vocabulary after exploring the colorful world in this fun-filled book, created by the word experts at Merriam-Webster. It has been over 50 years since Richard Scarry's Best Word Book Ever was released, selling over 5 million copies globally. Merriam-Webster Ready-for-School Words provides a modern update to the classic word book by featuring high-tech words, fresh and contemporary illustrations, and a diverse cast of human characters of all races, ages, abilities, gender expressions, and religions. Features simplified definitions from Merriam-Webster, including common words that are difficult to illustrate (creativity, pretend, allergy) with visual context clues. This book focuses on family and community. Each family depicted is made up of different family members (aunts, uncles, grandparents, parents, brothers, sisters, etc.) so all children can see themselves and their families represented. In addition to learning new words, readers can follow characters throughout the book as they go about their daily routines. Multiple characters are included in each spread as families mix and mingle over the course of one day. The oversized format provides a satisfying lap book experience for parents and caregivers to read to children.