Help parents to realize that children's books are not "just for kids." Many adults have not discovered the pleasure and satisfaction that comes from reading a well written picture book, middle grade novel, biography or nonfiction book. Encourage them to read children's literature ­ at first to help you‹and then for their own delight. Enlist parent volunteers to help you in any of the following activities.

Parents can:

• Give book talks at the beginning of units or special events. Are you starting a theme on Australia? Ask several parents to come in and do book talks for the class. Are your students performing a skit on the American Revolution? Have a parent begin the evening with a book talk on colonial heroes. (After all, learning should continue long after the theme or unit has come to an end.) Model the first book talk for parents at Open House.
  
  
• Write book reviews for your class or library newsletter. Ask families to take turns writing the reviews. Provide specific guidelines or examples to follow. Let parents and children know that it is okay to have mixed opinions on books ­ and that differing views can exist side by side in the same newsletter. Edit (or ask an appropriate parent to edit) the newsletter so families feel secure "going public."
  
  
• Create recommended reading lists for each new theme or unit of study. Coming up with a list of recommended books for each new topic is a tremendous help to parents, but time consuming for you. Choose a parent committee to do literature searches in your classroom, school or local library. Have them create bibliographies of books that have been well reviewed by professional journals and/or online reviews.
  
  
• Act as book buyers. This is a hard role to give up (especially because it is SO much fun). But consider having parents complete the book club order forms AND select the free classroom books. Or, share some of your trade book budget with parents. Give them a list of your needs, criteria for book selection and invite them to review books at their local bookstore. Then order the books through your normal distributors.
  
  
• Facilitate literature circles during the day, or book discussion groups after school. Ask parent volunteers to lead class literature groups. (Tell them that no experience is necessary ­ you will be happy to train parent volunteers.) Or choose a book monthly and invite interested family members to come for an evening book discussion. Provide treats and you will nourish more than their souls.