The Elves and the Shoemaker Author:Sara Baker (Illustrator) Series: Ready to Read. Ready to Read is a colorful series of books designed to make learning to read easy and fun. Level 1: Starting Out. These titles feature big type and easy words. The simple sentences use the present tense and avoid abbreviations. A "ready to tell" section encourages children to rearrange episodes from the story an... more »d increase confidence by retelling it. Picture dictionary pages illustrate more difficult words and present key words in context. Each book ends with a practical activity inspired by the story. Notes for adults provide background information on the story and suggestions for encouraging children. The chosen font helps children with word-shape recognition. The colored backgrounds are in line with current advice on making reading easier for children with dyslexia.« less