Word play and rhyming games can prepare children to become readers by developing their ear for language. Hosted by Annette Bening, this program shows parents and educators how to use word games and other strategies to build phonemic awareness, a crucial skill on the road to reading.

"Sounds and Symbols" is a 30-minute program in the Launching Young Readers series. It focuses on how children learn the relationship between sounds, letters, and words as an initial step before being able to decode the printed word. In fact, playing letter and sound games with children is the beginning of phonemic awareness.

This program also features a visit with children's book author and illustrator Norman Bridwell, the acclaimed creator of Clifford the Big Red Dog.