The Power of Reading by Stephen Krashen

• Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: Heinemann; 2nd edition (August 19, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591581699
• ISBN-13: 978-1591581697
• List Price: $25.00
• I finished this book on Jan. 23

Let me tell you something dearies, this book is preaching to the choir here. It is known that I heart reading, and the major point of this book is to tell me that reading is good. Also, according to Mr. Krashen I can thank reading for my excellent vocabulary and spelling skills. Outstanding. This book is aimed at educators, I would say, not just librarians. There is a big section in the middle where Krashen discusses the benefit of reading things like comic books and romances. So there you have it, kids, I'm not a failure for wanting to read fluff, or as Krashen puts it 'light reading'. That's a totally superior and even respectable title. BTW: every time I read that phrase I thought of Harry Potter (Hermione: I checked it out weeks ago for a bit of light reading. Ron: Light??) Anywho, I love any book that touts the plus side of graphic novels and comics. This one even uses pro-comic books quotes from African Bishop Desmond Tutu!
I like the book's stance promotion of sustained silent reading programs and demonization of the way we teach spelling to kids. So, basically, I bought this one hook, line and sinker. The other great plus of this book is that it is very readable and interesting.
What's more, this book taught me random facts that I will for no reason remember and then share with other who will not care. Such as: the lexicon of most television is 5,000 words (aka: not very many words).
Moral of this story: books are good. that is all.