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Helping Books Helping Families is a unique concept in book discussion and storytelling. It combines the best of both types of programs – the excitement of a good story with the stimulation of good discussion.

Helping Books Helping Families can be used as a basis for parents and children to talk together about often difficult and challenging issues. The concepts utilized in this program can assist in building a community of readers.

To support this program a manual was developed by the State Library of Ohio and a committee of volunteers. A PDF version of the manual, booksmarks, and registration forms are available under the documents tab.   Librarians, teachers, or other professionals who wish to utilize the document in book discussions should feel free to download the document for educational use. It should be understood that the HELPING BOOKS manual is the copyrighted property of the State Library of Ohio and may not be downloaded for sale or commercial use. For information on upcoming workshops see the Events Calendar

The Helping Books Helping Families program was designed to be flexible in order to accommodate the variety of communities in Ohio that may use this program. The program was designed to be utilized by public and school libraries, as well as early childhood agencies partnering with their local library. Through the discussion and sharing of information with family members and other parents, participants will engage in building communication as well as reinforcing positive values being taught in the home.

The programs may last as long as six weeks, but the length of the program may be modified to as little as four weeks. The program is divided into three sections; Families Talk!; Parents Talk!, and Students Talk!. Librarians may decide to do all sections or only one section for their community.

Helping Books Connection,mercury.educ.kent.edu/helpingbooks, is a resource center compiled to assist families and caring adults with finding and using quality children's literature as a tool for individual and group discussion activities.

Grant funds may be available to libraries for family literacy projects, including Library Services and Technology Act Funds. For further information on LSTA and a family literacy grant tip sheet go to the Ohio Center LSTA tip sheets section.