A room without books is like a body without a soul. -Cicero

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I love books. I always have. Reading is a magical escape, a window to a new world, a vacation from everyday life. As a child I loved to read. Back then I didn't understand the importance of reading and the role literacy plays in intellectual development. I didn't know anything about the inherent interpersonal and social benefits of literacy and didn't care (not even a little bit!) about the complexities of brain synapse development and all that jive. No. I just knew that it was my kind of fun!

I now have a concrete understanding of the advantages of literacy; both in my adult life and the significant impact being a reader made on my various developmental stages. Still, that is secondary to the sheer enjoyment of sharing a favorite read with my kids. While my children may never read the Harriet Tubman biography in one sitting, our home will always have plenty of reading material. How about yours?

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