every day.
Resources
In every community caring adults provide ways for children to connect with books. Here are ideas, reading traditions, booklists, and downloadable materials to inspire you! We welcome your own great ideas.
Email your reading ideas and traditions to office@familyreading.org.
Words of Love
There are many ways to say I Love You to the children in your life!
Words of Encouragement
Give your child encouragement and show you care.
Summer Reading Bookmarks
Encourage families to make books and reading aloud part of summer fun!
5 Great Reasons to Read to Your Baby Before Birth!
Get ready for your baby’s arrival! Read a book aloud.
10 Great Reasons to Read Aloud to Babies
It’s never too early to read to your child!
10 Great Reasons to Read Aloud to Children
Why read aloud to children? Here are 10 reasons on a large format bookmark. (Spanish Version of the “10 Great Reasons to Read!” Bookmark)
How to Choose a Book
A bookmark packed with information about what type of books are appropriate for different ages and list of books to read.
Tips For Sharing Books
Suggestions of the American Library Association in a bookmark format to photocopy.
New Holiday Book Tradition
Spread the word about a new holiday book tradition by passing out these bookmarks.
Baby Shower Book Basket
A great way to start a baby’s book collection.
Books and Activities for a Five-Year-Old
Read a book then do an activity to make the book come alive! Lots of ideas!
Books and Words at Home Checklist
Ideas for creating a culture of literacy in your own home
Poetry Play for Preschoolers
by Elizabeth Stillwell
Word Play at Home by Wendy Wilcox
Creating literacy-rich play at home
Read-Aloud Stages
Caroline Blakemore describes what to expect when reading to infants and toddlers, from her book “Baby Read-Aloud Basics”
Screen Time Tips
Learn why to put limits on your child’s screen time and read aloud instead.
Use old calendar images for art projects and more.
Origami Box
Follow these directions to make your own decorative paper box.
Calendar Activities for Teachers
Connect home and school with activities featuring the calendar all year long.
Calendar Activities for Families
Activities that use old or new calendars connect your family to books and stories.
Butterfly Rings
(“Waiting for Wings” by Lois Ehlert)
Dragon Ring
(“My Father’s Dragon” by Ruth Stiles Gannett)
Tips for reading to baby and and extensive list of board books by category.
Books about Friendship
Our list of friend books created for Kids’ Book Fest 2013.
Numbers and Counting Books
Read about numbers and how they work together!
Books About Hats
A List of books especially for Kids’ Book Fest 2011 that are about hats!
Books That are Magical
A List of books especially for Kids’ Book Fest 2011 that are magical, wonderful or wishful.
Books about Animals
Read books about your favorite animal or learn about a new creature.
Houses and Homes Booklist
A list of books about animal and human houses and homes.
Poetry Play
Poetry uses words in unusual, fanciful, and even silly ways! Download your own poetry booklets.
Book Gifting is an Art
How to use books as gifts to strengthen home/school connections and a create a classroom community
Using Books at Home Visits
Ideas for modeling read-aloud and lending books to families to encourage and support reading aloud at home
Word Play at Home
Talking points especially for working with low-literacy adults to encourage a language-rich home environment
Ways to Explore Books
Suggestions for families about how to make books part of everyday family life
HANDOUTS for FAMILIES
How to Choose a Book
Simple ways to find the right book for a child with suggestions by age (Oversized bookmark format)
Tips for Sharing Books
Simple ways to share books with children (Oversized bookmark format)
Read Aloud Every Day
Encouragement and motivation to read to children every day (1/3 page format)
Poster: What’s in a Book
Challenge your family or classroom to read aloud every day! Here is a tool kit of ideas in English and in Spanish.
Get ready for your baby’s arrival! Read a book aloud!
10 Great Reasons to Read Aloud to Babies
It’s never too early to read to your child!
10 Great Reasons to Read Aloud
Why read aloud to children? Here are 10 reasons on a large format bookmark. (SPANISH VERSION of the “10 Great Reasons to Read!” Bookmark)
How to Choose a Book
A bookmark packed with information about what type of books are appropriate for different ages and list of books to read.
Book Sharing Tips
Suggestions of the American Library Association in a bookmark format to photocopy.
New Holiday Tradition
Spread the word about a new holiday book tradition by passing out these bookmarks.
A great way to start a baby’s book collection.
Books and Activities for 5-Year-Olds
Read a book then do an activity to make the book come alive! Lots of ideas!
Books and Words at Home Checklist
Ideas for creating a culture of literacy in your own home
Family Reading Fun #1
Tips on how to make reading with your child enjoyable, from our 2005 “Read To Me!” Calendar.
Family Reading Fun #2
Ways to make books a special part of your family’s life, from our 2004 “Read To Me!” Calendar.
Poetry Play for Preschoolers
by Elizabeth Stillwell
Sharing Books with Grandchildren
Here are some ways to share books and words with your grandchildren
Summer Time Reading Ideas
Some easy ways to make books part of your family’s summer.
Word Play at Home by Wendy Wilcox
Creating literacy-rich play at home
Mem Fox shares her ideas on read-aloud
Read-Aloud Resolutions
Some ways to make sure books are a part of your family’s year ahead.
Use old calendar images for art projects and more.
Origami Box
Follow these directions to make your own decorative paper box.
Calendar Activities for Teachers
Connect home and school with activities featuring the calendar all year long.
Calendar Activities for Families
Activities that use old or new calendars connect your family to books and stories.
(“At Home with Books” by Katrina Morse)
Butterfly Rings
(“Waiting for Wings” by Lois Ehlert)
Dragon Ring
(“My Father’s Dragon” by Ruth Stiles Gannett)
Tips for reading to baby and and extensive list of board books by category.
Books about Friendship
Our list of friend books created for Kids’ Book Fest 2013.
Numbers and Counting Books
Read about numbers and how they work together!
Books About Hats
A List of books especially for Kids’ Book Fest 2011 that are about hats!
Books That are Magical
A List of books especially for Kids’ Book Fest 2011 that are magical, wonderful or wishful.
Family Reading Partnership Favorites
Our recommendations for books by age, from birth to age 5.
Animal Books
Read books about your favorite animal or learn about a new creature.
Grandma Mimi’s Favorites
A kindergarten teacher’s favorite children’s books with descriptions.
House and Home Books
A list of books about animal and human houses and homes.
Love and Kindness Books
A kindergarten teacher’s favorite children’s books on love and kindness.
Poems for Children
Poetry uses words in unusual, fanciful, and even silly ways! Download your own poetry booklets.
Transportation Books
A list of our favorite transportation related children’s books.
Wintertime Books
Books to warm your soul on cold days.
Websites of our favorite children’s book authors and illustrators.
Literacy Organizations
Great online resources for information on children’s literacy.
Our Partners
Websites of some of our business and organization project partners.
“Books have always been an important part of our daily life, but I always get new ideas from the FRP website!”
– A. McQuade, editor, writer
Send Us Your Great Ideas!
There are so many ways to make reading an exciting and memorable part of everyday life at home, at school, and in the community! To share your book tradition or event on our website, email it to office@familyreading.org
Please send us the following information in your email: your first name, your city and your state along with your reading or book idea for family, school, or community. Photos are welcome too!
Happy Reading!