Children's literature, widely used with elementary English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) students, can be adapted to teach literacy skills to adult ESL learners as well. Children's books often have captivating story lines and beautiful illustrations, and many have universal appeal and address mature themes and topics. Its successful use in adult ESL programs is enhanced by age-sensitive book selections, clear class presentations, and the creative development of related lesson and unit plans. From its strong foundation as a way to develop literacy in elementary schools, children's literature has recently become incorporated into family literacy programs, in which parents learn to read in order to transmit literacy patterns to their children. This trend is now spreading to the newly developing ESL family literacy programs and general adult ESL programs. The benefits of children's literature, book selection, classroom presentation, and extension activities are discussed. (VWL)