This is not a book about teaching a child how to read; it's about teaching a child to want to read. There's an education adage that goes, "What we teach children to love and desire will always outweigh what we make them learn." The fact is that some children learn to read sooner than others, while some learn better than others. There is a difference. For the parent who thinks that sooner is better, who has an eighteen-month-old child barking at flash cards, my response is: sooner is not better. Are the dinner guests who arrive an hour early better guests than those who arrive on time? Of course not.
The essence of this book is not focused on the mechanics of teaching reading skills but rather on fostering a love for reading in children. The message underscores that instilling a passion for reading is more valuable than simply pushing children to learn faster. There is an important distinction between different children's reading abilities and timescales; rushing the process does not necessarily lead to better outcomes.
This idea echoes a familiar educational concept that emphasizes nurturing desire over enforcing learning. For parents eager for early reading milestones, it is crucial to understand that speed isn't everything. Just as arriving early to a dinner party does not make someone a better guest, pushing children to learn reading prematurely does not enhance their learning experience or outcomes. True success lies in creating an environment that encourages a genuine interest in reading.
