Reading Tips for Parents

Children’s books contain 50 % more rare and sophisticated words than movies or television. Reading out loud to children exposes them to a rich vocabulary, improving their literacy skills and growth. - National Association for the Education of Young Children

Want to easily find out the reading level of a book for your child? Try the Level It app. Finding the reading levels/measures is as easy as scanning the ISBN on the back of your book. Within seconds, you will be viewing the Guided Reading (GR), DRA, Grade Level Equivalent (GLE), and/or Lexile levels/measures for your books.

Reading Tips for Parents

  • Reading Aloud Videos: http://www.readingrockets.org/atoz/1143/video . This website takes you to a playlist of over 30 videos that show the importance of reading aloud, as well as tips of how to do so effectively, and even has a video modeling parent read alouds.




Launching Young Readers Guides

Viewers' Guide

The Viewers' Guide is a companion print guide to our PBS five-part television series, Launching Young Readers. The Viewers' Guide provides descriptions and approximate lengths for each program segment as well as information on helping children who are struggling with reading.

Family Guide

The colorful bilingual Family Guide includes tips for helping children get the most out of reading as well as pointers on working with schools and teachers, ideas for using the public library, and more. Available in Spanish, Hmong, and Somali.


Reading Rocks! Talking With Your Struggling Reader

This one-page discussion guide is a companion to Reading Rocks!, an empowering and upbeat show for kids ages 7-12 years old. The guide includes suggestions for parents and teachers of a struggling reader.


Empowering Parents: Reading Rockets Parents' Guide

From the moment your child is born, there are simple things you can do to help him or her become a good reader. This guide helps parents build a child's early reading skills at home, recognize signs of trouble, support the child as he or she enters school, understand options for extra support, and recognize when parents need to go outside the school for help.