diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4655392..07dc02f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -34,13 +34,21 @@ from datatree import DataTree, open_datatree
 import json
 import numpy as np
 import os
+```
+
+### Create component shard stores
 
+```python
 base_store = DirectoryStore("base.zarr")
 shard1 = DirectoryStore("shard1.zarr")
 shard2 = DirectoryStore("shard2.zarr")
 array_shards1 = array_shard_directory_store("array_shards1")
 array_shards2 = array_shard_directory_store("array_shards2")
+```
+
+### Generate data for the example
 
+```python
 # xarray-datatree Quick Overview
 data = xr.DataArray(np.random.randn(2, 3), dims=("x", "y"), coords={"x": [10, 20]})
 # Sharded array dimensions must have a chunk shape of 1.
@@ -53,30 +61,45 @@ ds3 = xr.Dataset(
     coords={"species": "human"},
     )
 dt = DataTree.from_dict({"simulation/coarse": ds, "simulation/fine": ds2, "/": ds3})
+```
+
+### A monolithic store
 
-# A monolithic store
+```python
 single_store = DirectoryStore("single.zarr")
 dt.to_zarr(single_store)
+```
+### A sharded store demonstrating sharding on groups and arrays.
+
+Arrays are sharded over 1 dimension.
 
-# A sharded store demonstrating sharding on groups and arrays.
-# Arrays are sharded over 1 dimension.
+```python
 sharded_store = ShardedStore(base_store,
     {'people': shard1, 'species': shard2},
     {'simulation/coarse/foo': (1, array_shards1), 'simulation/fine/foo': (1, array_shards2)})
 dt.to_zarr(sharded_store)
+```
+
+### Serialize / deserialize
 
-# Serialize / deserialize
+```python
 config = sharded_store.get_config()
 config_str = json.dumps(config)
 config = json.loads(config_str)
 sharded_store = ShardedStore.from_config(config)
+```
+
+### Validate
 
+```python
 from_single = open_datatree(single_store, engine='zarr').compute()
 from_sharded = open_datatree(sharded_store, engine='zarr').compute()
-
 assert from_single.identical(from_sharded)
+```
 
-# Run transformations over component shards with `map_shards`
+### Run transformations over component shards with `map_shards`
+
+```python
 to_zip_stores = to_zip_store_with_prefix("zip_stores")
 zip_sharded_stores = sharded_store.map_shards(to_zip_stores)
 ```