A beginner's picture book designed to be read with a friend—one as aardvark and the other as mouse— to help build reading confidence in young readers Early childhood specialist and former  Romper Room  teacher "Miss Karen" believes that reading should be easy and fun, and that reading with a buddy brings pleasure to young children. Drawing inspiration from the classic children's book  The Little Engine that Could , this story also encourages beginning readers to believe in themselves. They will want to read it over and over again, and will be proud to say "I can read!"    Designed to be read with a buddy, this dialogue between an aardvark and a mouse contains only kindergarten or first-grade level words, making it a unique first reading book. Sentences are short, with lots of repetition for reinforcement and to build reading confidence.