Do Your Students Own a Library?

Actually, they just might! 

A home library doesn’t have to have hundreds of books in it to be a resource for reading development for a family’s child. Every book a family has in its home can contribute to the growth of their child’s love of reading, supporting academic and life success. And if families share their books with other families, more children benefit.

Of course, research shows that homes with 100 books provide fertile ground for children to develop two critical habits, ensuring their futures as proficient, active lifelong learners: 1) reading self-selected books just about every day on their own, and 2) having conversations with other family members about what either of them is reading. These two dynamics nurture positive connections around books and reading that encourage ongoing comfort and fulfillment through maintaining books in their lives.  

Broadening a literate community

Children tend to embrace particular books, wanting to read them over and over. And once they get hooked by one book, they typically want to read more just like it, with familiar characters, places, or topics. 

As children age, their reading interests grow. Neighborhood kids who share books can transition together from the fantastical world of Dr. Seuss to fascination with The Great Brain, Harry Potter, or Lemony Snicket series books.

Encouraging neighborhood book sharing paves a perfect reading path forward for children. Generous sharing of family literacy resources strengthens communities through readership. 

Adults benefit too

Adults in bookless homes also will benefit from the same kinds of social support for enjoying and sharing books and reading. Adult book sharing strengthens the likelihood that everyone in their respective families will come to value reading, offering book suggestions to others, and enhancing the literacy skills of all of their kids.