Family Engagement

Families are the first, the best, and the most reliable teachers of their children.
–Alma Flor Ada, Children’s Book Author, Professor Emerita, San Francisco University

Children who grow up in homes replete with books, and rich with talk about books, have the best chance of growing into avid readers—whether families purchase the books or fill their homes with books they borrow from the public library. All families are best served by expert information about the nature of literacy and how it develops most effectively in growing readers. Families benefit from knowing how to:


• establish a library habit; make trips to the public library part of your family routine
• select books across grades, ages, and ability levels for their children
• harness the power of series books
• help their children develop favorite authors
• create a home reading culture
• find time in their busy lives to talk about books as a family
• draw on the power of graphic novels and audiobooks as part of a robust reading diet
• invite children to read a variety of texts for a variety of purposes

The following resources can help families adopt positive reading practices.

It’s Cubby Time!

The Primary School Night

Effective Teaching of Reading: What Parents and Families Can Do

LIFE-CHANGER ESSAYS

Read It Again, Mama! By Nawal Qarooni
Family Literacy Night by Lynsey Burkins