IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY TO GIVE A CHILD A BOOK.

"When will my child start to read?" is a common question for parents of first-graders, unless the youngster happened to master the skill in kindergarten--or even before. "It's a very individual process," notes Beverly Cox, professor of language and literacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. "Some children are reading before they even start school; others will learn in kindergarten; but most of them start to do what we would call `conventional reading' in the latter half of the first grade."

She explains that the important things for parents to remember is that every child is different, and teaching him or her to read is not the exclusive domain of teachers. "There's a whole lot of learning that goes on long before the child ever sees the inside of a classroom. Reading is a complex skill that develops over time, and it starts with what the child sees and experiences at home."

Cox says sitting down and reading to your child is just one part of the early learning process. "Let your youngster see you reading and writing in a variety of settings. This shows her that these skills are important in everyday life."

The first step in mastering almost any new skill is becoming familiar with the tools. She recommends that parents introduce books as...