Adult Literacy is Climbing Back Up

At least according to the National Endowment for the Arts, as reported in the New York Times. And may I say, woo to the hoo!

Okay, why am I posting about adult literacy on a blog that focuses on picture books and early literacy?

Because adults who read raise kids who read. You see it in every study out there: you can have all the school testing, Baby Einstein, and library story hours you want, but the bottom line is that the most likely kid to be a book-lover is one who sees Mom and Dad, Uncle Ben and Aunt Sally, and/or Mrs. Jones next door all reading for pleasure. To this kid, reading is something grown-ups do, and to a six-year-old, grown-ups don't have to do anything they don't want to. Therefore, reading must be awesome.

Adult reading on the rise means that child literacy should follow. And that is truly awesome.