Most teachers I know would love more support from parents—especially primary teachers looking for support at home to help young children learn to read. Most parents I know would love to provide that support if they only knew how. And just about everyone talks at one time or another about why Johnny can’t read. But if we all read Dan Willingham’s new book, “Raising Kids Who Read: What Parents and Teachers Can Do”,I think Johnny would be doing just fine.

Here’s a nice Q&A with Dan from NPR that provides a glimpse into some of the things he writes about.

For many of us who have been studying reading instruction for years, much of this is not new. But having a book like this is. And that’s my point about it being a true must-read. Now, when I come across a teacher who is struggling with reading instruction, or struggling to engage parents in supportive action, I have the perfect gift to offer. And for all the parents out there who are nervous about their children learning to read, that same gift will be just as valuable.

After two decades, and thousands of books, studies, articles, and web pages, you can count the number of must-read resources I recommend on one hand (OK, maybe two). But for parents, teachers, grandparents, principals, librarians, and anyone else who cares deeply about helping young children not only learn to read but love to read, Dan’s new book is one many of us must read.