The Reading Promise

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Alice Ozma was nine-years-old when her father promised to read to her every night. The goal of the reading streak, as they called it, was 100 days, but lasted until Alice's first day of college, 3,218 days, which Alice has chronicled in a delightful book, The Reading Promise.

Reading with a youngster, stopping for questions, interjecting experiences, is not just delightful, but is also really important.

Statistics show a strong relationship between a child who's read to and later reading achievement. And reading to kids shouldn't stop at childhood; share a news item or a TV review with a teen.

It's been documented that students lose skills when they don't read in the summer. The Free Library of Philadelphia has children's, teen and adult programs and libraries everywhere make an appeal that 15 minutes together with a parent , grandparent or caregiver is an investment in a child's future success. Make a reading promise!

Reported By Dr. Marciene Mattleman, KYW Newsradio