6 by 6 Ready to Read
Let the Library be your partner in encouraging early reading with the 6 by 6 Ready to Read program.

Books to Go
Help get every child ready to read with the Library's Books to Go kits. These can be checked out by parents or child care providers. They include books and activity ideas around specific themes such as bugs, dinosaurs, manners, pets and more.

Books for Younger Readers

• Be a Guest Reader!
  Books perfect for classroom guest readers. These books can be read in 5-10 minutes and are great for elementary-aged students.
• Using the Potty
  Easy fiction and nonfiction books for parents and kids about using the toliet.
• A New Baby
  Books to help kids prepare for a new baby in the house.
• Endangered Animal Books
  Here are some great stories and factual books about animals that are in danger of disappearing.
• Historical Fiction
  Teachers often assign historical fiction for school, so our staff have selected some good historical fiction books to read.
• School Days
  These books were chosen by Johnson County Librarians to help children feel comfortable in school.

Chapter Books

• 2010 Nonfiction Picks!
  These are some of librarian Miss Barbara's favorite informational books for children from 2010!
• Endangered Animal Books
  These chapter books and nonfiction books are about animals in danger of extinction.
• Historical Fiction
  Teachers often assign historical fiction for school, so our staff have selected some good historical fiction books to read.

Holiday Reading Recommendations

• Easter
  Happy Easter! Here are some books about Easter to educate and entertain.
• Halloween
  Here are some spooky books to get your children in the Halloween spirit!
• Hanukkah
  Here are some great books, videos and CDs to help you celebrate those eight magical nights.
• Christmas
  Ho ho ho! Here are some books full of Christmas cheer!
• Kwanzaa
  We've got books, movies and more that celebrate and educate about Kwanzaa.

• Caldecott Medal
• Coretta Scott King Award
• Newbery Medal
• Pura Belpre Medal
• Theodor Seuss Geisel Award

• To find registered or licensed child care providers near your home or work in the Kansas City metro area:
  • Child care Source
  • Johnson County Health Department's Child Care Facilities Program
  • Day Care Connection's referral service
• Mom2Mom
  Mom2Mom features local moms writing about moms for moms. This site is a place for moms to connect, share, laugh and help one another through online forums, blogs and a local events calendar.
• The Family Conservancy
  Find parenting help with topics such as discipline and single parent strategies.
• Kansas Parent Information Resource Center
  Learn how you can be more involved in your child’s education--from preschool high school.
• Parent Tips from Kansas Children's Service League
  Great tips on many topics for parents and caregivers – in Spanish, too!
• Kansas Action for Children
  Learn more about Kansas child-and-family advocacy issues.
• Learn more about the Kansas state requirements for child care providers and how to evaluate the best child care for your children, by viewing this online program on Finding Quality Child Care produced by the Library and the Johnson County Health Department.
  The slides in this online presentation may take some time to load. Please be patient.

• Parents as Teachers
  This early childhood parent education and family support program serves families from pregnancy until the child's third birthday. You are your child’s first teacher! Find out more about programs in your area:
  • Spring Hill
  • Shawnee Mission
  • Blue Valley
  • DeSoto
• Kansas School Readiness
  Learn more about why early literacy is important and about how to help pre-school age children prepare for school.
• Give your child a Head Start!
  
  • Head Start of Shawnee Mission
  • Kansas State Head Start

For more resources on colleges and local schools, use the Library's research page.

Librarians are experts at searching the Web and are happy to help you find what you need. Contact a librarian with your questions.

A sample of librarians' favorite parenting Web sites:


• Zero to Three
  Up-to-date publications and information to support the healthy development and well-being of infants, toddlers and their families.
• Every Child Ready to Read
  The American Library Association's website for early literacy skillbuilding.
• Reading Rockets
  A site devoted to launching young readers, especially those children who struggle with reading.
• Early Literacy and Vocabulary Building Activities
  There are so many easy and fun ways to encourage language development while talking to and playing with young children! Get tips for low-effort activities such as asking questions, playing with sounds, music and rhyming, and much more!

Materials to Check Out

The Library has many parenting books on the shelves for check out. Try searching the Library catalog or browse these titles:

• Parenting
• Child discipline
• Exceptional children

Frustrated Parents--Fiction
Frustrated Parents--Non-Fiction
Frustrated Parents--Videos
Parents, are you frustrated? Try these materials for some advice, sympathy, or just a good laugh.

Single Parents--Fiction
Single Parents--Non-Fiction
Single Parents--Videos
Being a single parent can be very challenging. Here are some resources that can help.

Parenting Teenagers--Nonfiction
Parenting Teenagers--Fiction
Teenagers have their own special challenges. We've put together some lists of books to help you.

Parenting Magazines

The Library has many magazines for parents, some online, some on the shelf. Here are a few titles available online:

• Baby Talk
• Exceptional Parent
• Mothering
• Parenting
• Pediatrics for Parents
• Scholastic Parent & Child
• Today's Parent
• Working Mother