I’ve been following some online discussions about children’s books that deal with some of life’s more serious issues.  The discussions led me to a book review posted on Amazon.com which concluded by saying “Children have their entire adolescent and adult lives to learn … and should not be subjected to such material before bedtime. Ridiculous.”

Okay.  I have a problem with this.  It perpetuates two problems.  First, that children don’t have the capacity to deal with certain realities of life.  Second, and most important, the review implies that the time to read with your child (or that the only time to read a ‘weighty book’ with your child) is just before you shut off the light for the night.

One of the feelings I get when I read that review is that some parents won’t expose their children to books that can help them understand the world around them and can kick-off real conversations in a controlled environment — anytime, anywhere — and yet they’re likely to plunk their children in front of the television or let them surf the Internet and discover the how inhumane the world can be on their own.

Where and when do you read with your child?