Reading books with rhyming text offers adults an opportunity to help children learn to recognize and produce rhyming words.  This is a skill they will be assessed on when they enter kindergarten.  All school districts are required to use the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment in Literacy (KRA-L).  It is a brief assessment tool that measures skills important for reading success. 

After reading Meow Said the Cow by Emma Dodd a few times through,  comment on a few pairs of rhyming words (there are many!).  Emphasize that that when words rhyme, the ends of the words "sound the same".  Ask your child to see if he or she hears any words that rhyme and to stop you when they hear a rhyming pair. 

Here's a little ditty to sing about the rhyming words:

(to the tune of "skip to my Lou")

"Band" and "hand" are words that rhyme.

"Band" and "hand" are words that rhyme.

"Band" and "hand" are words that rhyme.

Rhyme along with me.