A Love of Reading Begins at Home

My father read to my brother and me nearly every night he was home. He never seemed to run out of stories, and our bookshelves never seemed to run out of books.

Our house has an extensive library filled with hardbound classics and books passed down through generations. There was Edgar Allan Poe, War and Peace, encyclopedias, and The Lord of the Rings, alongside political biographies, presidential histories, and accounts of war. My father was particularly fond of figures such as Benjamin Franklin and American history, an interest that eventually rubbed off on me. Years later, I found myself writing my university dissertation on Franklin D. Roosevelt and Herbert Hoover.

As a child, I gravitated toward the Magic Tree House series. My sister Alicia introduced me to books like Tuck Everlasting and The Giver, sometimes leaving handwritten notes explaining why she loved them. Those notes made the books feel like gifts rather than assignments.

My mother, an immigrant from Slovakia, spoke Slovak with us at home. Growing up between two languages sometimes made vocabulary more complicated, but my father's reading meant my brother and I were often ahead of our peers.

There is something special about having a parent read to a child that a classroom lesson cannot replicate. Think of the difference between silently reading about a frightening escape through the woods and hearing someone read it aloud, lowering their voice, pausing for suspense, and adding drama when the wicked witch appears. Even history becomes more memorable when someone brings it to life. Paul Revere's midnight ride feels different when read with the urgency of someone warning that the British are coming.

When children read, they learn more than vocabulary; they discover the joy of stories.

Children should have the freedom to browse bookshelves and develop their own interests. Not every child will enjoy the same authors, genres, or subjects. Some will want adventures; others will prefer history or mysteries. What matters is finding something that makes them want to turn another page.

I studied English literature at university, yet I often disliked the books assigned to me in school. I loved reading, but that did not mean I enjoyed every book someone told me to read. There is a difference between introducing children to important literature and expecting everyone to enjoy it equally.

One of my frustrations with modern education is that standardized testing and rote learning measure whether students remember information, but not necessarily their curiosity or independent thought. Furthermore, expecting children to learn at the same pace can leave advanced readers unchallenged while others need more time.

A child reading several grades ahead should have the chance to tackle more difficult books and receive additional instruction rather than repeat material they have already mastered.

Of course, not every book is suitable for every age. I would not suggest handing a middle schooler Hunter S. Thompson without considering the material. But there is a difference between exercising judgment and limiting intellectual exploration. My brother and I were allowed to explore much of our father's library, even when we were too young to understand everything in it. Sometimes, not understanding a book was what made us curious about it.

Libraries have an important role in preserving that freedom. A public library should be more than a place where children learn basic literacy. It should be a gateway to knowledge and a resource for anyone looking for answers.

Many bookshelves, particularly those aimed at younger readers, seem increasingly dominated by young adult fantasy and popular fiction. There is nothing wrong with a little escapism, but children should also have access to history, philosophy, biographies, poetry, and challenging literature.

A limited selection can also limit a child's understanding of the world. When children encounter only the experiences and opinions around them, they have fewer chances to question what they know. Books take them beyond those boundaries, introducing unfamiliar cultures, historical periods, and ways of life.

The digital age has made access even greater. I read plenty of electronic books myself, and online resources have made knowledge more accessible than ever. Libraries will continue to evolve, but their role in providing free access to knowledge remains essential.

This responsibility does not belong to libraries alone. Families, schools, and communities all have a part to play. Literacy is not just an academic achievement; it affects everyday life, from reading a newspaper to understanding a legal document, applying for a job, or communicating with another person.

Imagination matters, too, especially in a society increasingly focused on productivity.

I do not necessarily believe people have changed all that much. Give a medieval king or peasant a smartphone with the same capabilities we have today, and I suspect many would develop the same habits of checking, scrolling, and seeking instant gratification. Technology changes, but human nature remains familiar.

Online platforms can also distort how we see one another. They often emphasize outrage, conflict, and opinions that attract the most attention. Yet away from those screens, people still help strangers with directions, share meals, and offer hospitality. We have not suddenly become less human.

Literature reminds us of our shared humanity. Consider Charles Dickens' Scrooge. He is so miserly and unpleasant that it would be easy to dismiss him, but his story reveals his loneliness and capacity to change. In Doctor Zhivago, we see how love unfolds against the backdrop of revolution and war. John Steinbeck's novels humanize ordinary Americans enduring trials and tribulations.

One of literature's greatest gifts is that it teaches us to look beyond appearances and social standing. A farmer, grocer, priest, student, or councilman all have an inner life that cannot be reduced to a statistic or stereotype.

Reading does not automatically make someone wise or compassionate. A person can read thousands of books without reflecting on what they have learned. Reading means more than remembering characters, themes, and historical dates; it means questioning what we read and considering how it changes our understanding of ourselves and others.

Science helps us understand how the world works. The humanities help us consider why that knowledge matters and what we should do with it.

A child's interest in reading rarely begins with a test, a reading list, or an assignment. It begins when someone takes the time to sit beside them, open a book, and read aloud. My father did that for my brother and me, and it stayed with us long after childhood. Reading to a child is a simple act, but it can give them a love of reading that lasts a lifetime.