Share a good book with someone you love. Today is Valentine's Day AND Read to Your Child Day, the perfect opportunity to take about 30 minutes to read aloud to your child.

"Each time we reread a book we get more out of it because we put more into it; a different person in reading it, and therefore it is a different book," explained writer Muriel Clark.

According to the grassroots literacy network, Reading Is Fundamental, "Research shows that parents' involvement in their children's reading is critical to raising lifelong readers."

Children develop learning skills in the first three years of their life when their brains are growing to 90% of their adult weight. Studies show that children ages 3-5 spend 13.5 hours a week watching television. Pull the plug!

As comic Groucho Marx advised, "I find television very educating. Every time someone turns on the set I go into the other room and read a book."

February is Library Lovers' Month. Visit your library. Read. Children emulate their parents. Share the treasure of a good book. Inspire questions and conversation.

"A good book," said writer John Milton, "is the precious life blood of a master spirit, embalmed and treasured up on purpose to a life beyond life."

And as First Lady Laura Bush explained, "Children who are read to learn two things: First, that reading is worthwhile, and second, that they are worthwhile."

Books to Read A-Loud

Read, read, and read some more.