Who I am and why I've written this book -- Power to the parents! -- Ignore the myths about reading! -- Step one: Talk, talk, talk to your infant, toddler, and school-age child -- Step two: Encourage free play and fiercely protect free time -- Step three: Read to your child and expand how, when, and what you read about -- Step four: Support and motivate your new reader -- Step four, continued: Give extra support to your struggling reader -- Step five: Use, don't abuse, technology and balance your child's diet of fun -- A final word on a passion for reading

When neuroscientists cracked the mystery of reading in the 1980s, they pinpointed the simple steps parents can take to help all children become skilled, avid readers. Yet this information still hasn't spread from the research community to the general public, leaving a huge gap between what scientists have learned and what parents know about raising readers. Though many parents are concerned about their children's reading abilities, they have no idea how to help their children become readers. And they commonly believe that it is impossible to raise readers because of competition from technology. Bridging the gap between scientists and busy parents by combining the latest scientific research with what she has learned as a teacher and mother, author Nancy Newman offers a simple approach that boosts children's literacy skills and instills an enduring love of reading. Using accessible, parent-friendly language, realistic examples of family life, and humor, this guide translates neuroscience into common sense, and provides easy, effective, everyday strategies that can be adapted to a wide range of families, personalities, and schedules