Babies (Infancy to 18 months): Raising a reader begins within months of birth, years before a child learns to read. reading complements adult's frequent talking and singing to baby.

Toddlers (19 to 35 months): The sound of your voice, the lure of the lap, or the opportunity for a cuddle will be as great a motivator to curl up with a book in your company as the book itself.

Preschoolers (Age 3 to 5): This is the all-important time when parents are little one's most important teachers for reading to young children to readying young children to read the success later in school.

Children in Primary Grades (Age 6 - 9): For most in this group, reading is hard work that requires decoding of print and reading for meaning.

Children in Intermediate Grades (Age 10 - 12): If one wants to raise a lifelong reader, the pleasure principle is still the best guide - a connection between good times and books.