Heggerty is basically the 'broccoli' of the early childhood library. It’s not flashy, it’s not a page-turner, and your kid isn't going to beg for it at night.

However, if you actually use it for 10 minutes a day, it’s essentially a cheat code for literacy. It’s a 2004 manual that hasn't aged because the way human brains learn to decode language hasn't changed. It’s dry as toast for a kid to look at, but as a tool for a parent to lead, it’s unbeatable. Just don't expect them to read it themselves—they'll just use it as a coloring book.