[buttmunch]

First, I can't imagine not reading. It's an integral part of my life and I freak out if I forget to bring a book in my bag when I leave the house. I have to go buy a paper, book or magazine.

I also think part of the problem is that the schools might be teaching kids to read but they're not teaching them to love books. My older heathen had a teacher who always gave him 'And the little bunny hopped down the road to see his good friend the turtle, who was busy baking a pie' kind of books and he really hated them. Finally I took him to a bookstore and said 'pick out whatever you want'. He found Captain Underpants and Anthony Horowitz and the rest is history. He reads every single day before going to sleep and runs to tell me about cool/exciting bits.

I should add that there is probably a contigent of parents and teachers who would freak over the books my kids read since there are mentions of *gasp!* farts, murder, dodgy dealings and rude comments. Me, I don't care. My parents let me read what I wanted and I'm doing the same with my little heathens.