Rights of the Reader, The

This fun text is a wake-up call for parents. Remember, we want our children to love reading. Yes, I want my children to be able to look up why the sky is blue, to read their bank statements, and to figure out the IRS booklet for the 1040. I also want them to know the joy of figuring out who committed the crime fifty pages before Miss Marple does, and to read the last few chapters of the gospels with tears in their eyes.

I can coerce my children to read books, articles or magazines. I'm able to assign book reports, and ask them to discuss antagonists, protagonists and motivations. None of those things will make my children love reading. I want my children to love reading and by extension learning. Sometimes, you have to step back and look at the big picture.

This book helps you as the parent/teacher to remember why we teach our children, not just teaching them to read but why we teach them at home: to impart our values, our love of the Bible, to turn to our Heavenly Father when they falter… all the reasons we’ve kept them under our influence these years.

The tone of the book is secular and it contains a few swear words. It is written from the viewpoint of a student who became a teacher in the public school system in France. I wouldn’t recommend it for students, except for later high school, but for parents, this little book can be a great motivator.