To welcome the more than 2,500 early-care educators arriving in Providence this weekend for the Professional Development Institute of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the city's youngest residents created this wonderful guidebook.

The book was a project of Ready to Learn Providence, Making Learning Visible (a program out of Harvard University), and preschool educators in the R2LP/MLV Peer Network. It's a reminder that even our youngest citizens can serve as ambassadors for their communities.

Providence Mayor Angel Taveras will mention the book in his greeting to conference participants Sunday night, and copies will be distributed at that event.

Members of the R2LP staff will present two sessions at the four-day Institute -- one on the results of our ECEPD program, and another on the important role of mentors in professional development.

We urge you to take a look at this on-line version of Places to Play in Providence. Seeing the city through the eyes of young children gives you a whole new perspective on "fun." Be sure also to see the explanation on page 19 of the professional development that went into the book's creation. The project was partially funded by a RIAEYC BrightStars Peer Network grant.

For more information, please email R2LP Director Leslie Gell at lgell@provplan.org, or call her at (401) 490-9960.