Children's Access to Books, Libraries, and Storybook Reading: Survey of Mothers at a Family Homeless Shelter.

This article examines disparities in access to literacy resources—specifically children's books, public library use, and shared storybook reading—between children living in an urban family homeless shelter and housed children in the same neighborhood. The study surveyed mothers of 24 homeless and 27 housed children, finding that homeless children had significantly fewer books, visited libraries less frequently, and were less likely to have library cards compared to housed peers. Although the average frequency of daily reading did not differ significantly, fewer homeless mothers read to their children every day, particularly during the preschool years. These findings highlight potential developmental risks related to language, literacy, and academic delays associated with homelessness and suggest the need for targeted literacy support and strengthened connections among homeless shelters, schools, and libraries.