Letters are Characters: A Play-Based, Reading Program for Emerging Readers and an Essential Reading Curriculum for Caregivers

by Caroline Wilcox Ugurlu

An Innovative Play-Based Program Designed to Get Every Type of Learner Ready to Read! According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, two-thirds of fourth graders are not reaching fluency benchmarks. But, involved parents and caregivers can change that. The journey starts here with Letters Are Characters. Bring the alphabet to life in this fun book designed for both parents and children. When letters become characters, young learners can do what comes most naturally--play, laugh, and learn about the characters and their stories. They do this while simultaneously breaking the phonemic code... the essential first step to reading. Too often, we see otherwise bright, capable children's self-esteem and enthusiasm for learning plummet because they lag behind their peers in their acquisition of early reading skills. In Letters Are Characters, Dr. Wilcox Ugurlu has brought her unique perspective as scientist, educator, and parent to create a playful, compassionate, and well-informed program for parents to help their children begin to build critical reading readiness skills. --Paul B. Yellin, MD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, NYU School of Medicine, Director, The Yellin Center for Mind, Brain, and Education.

108 pages, Paperback

Published December 12, 2025

Reviews

[Annamari]

Dr. Wilcox Ugurlu has created an innovative and fun program for both caregivers and children. She presents current research and best practice recommendations in a user-friendly format, demystifying how reading occurs in the brain. She addresses the important topic of reading instruction practices in the schools and presents evidence in support of systematic, explicit instruction, which is crucial for ALL readers. With the information presented, caregivers will be able to advocate for and support their child's early literacy development. Most importantly, my daughter loved this program and it was an essential first step on her journey to becoming a proficient reader. I whole-heartedly recommend the Letters are Characters program for teachers, caregivers and those looking to learn more about the science of the reading process. It is a wonderful resource!

[Maria]

Finally! The key to unlock the potential for all children to unlock the gifts of reading! Dr Wilcox has done the research into the neurobiological foundations of reading acquisition…something we are too often missing and our kids suffer as a result. This play based program allows for parents, teachers and librarians to teach children to break the phonemic code and build the skills to read joyfully. It’s SO much fun! And it is exceptionally effective.

[Jamie Spannhake]

What a fun way to help my dyslexic daughter. She had trouble distinguishing between B and D and S and Z. With Letters Are Characters and the tools Dr. Wilcox Ugurlu shares in the book, it was play and fun. And it worked!

[Sara]

A creative, fun, hands-on approach to help young children acquire foundational literacy skills, while providing caregivers the nuts and bolts of the science of reading acquisition.