This booklet tells how parents can use all their language skills to build those of their children. The booklet is designed for helping children from infancy to age 6--the most important years for learning the skills they will need to become readers. It offers parents suggestions on how to: talk with their children; read aloud with him/her; help him/her learn about printed words and what they mean; show her/him that they value reading; and do other activities at home that encourage reading. To help show when children can take certain learning steps, the booklet ties much of the discussion to four age groups: baby (birth to 1 year); toddler (1 to 3 years); preschooler (ages 3 and 4); and kindergartner/early first grader (ages 5 and 6). A section discusses "If You Think There's a Problem." Contains a reading checklist, a list of typical language accomplishments for children, resources for families and caregivers, resources for children, and an 11-item bibliography. (NKA)