Celebrate National Library Week with a trip to the public library. As I've mentioned before, I'm convinced that one of the best gifts you can give your child is a library card and a weekly trip to the library to borrow books. Libraries and librarians can have a tremendous impact on individuals and communities. For examples, share the picture books The Librarian of Basra: A True Story of Iraq and The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians with your children. Jerry Spinelli's Library Card, a collection of short stories about the impact of libraries on kid's lives, is another good example, one that upper elementary and middle school kids will enjoy. Has your public library had a positive impact on your kids? If so, click on "comments" below and tell me about it.

Related About.com Links

• How Fathers Can Help Their Children Read (About.com: Fatherhood)
• Volunteer at the School Library (About.com: Parenting Special Needs)
• Make the Most of Visits to the Library (About.com: Gifted Children)
• Improve Your Child’s Reading with Audio Books (About.com: Learning Disabilities)
• Make a Greeting Card Bookmark (About.com: Family Crafts)

(Cover art courtesy of Harcourt)