The first B is for Books:
Ownership of a book, with the child's name written inside, a book that doesn't have to be returned to the library or even shared with a sibling. Many of us have the first book we ever owned or received as a gift. This book becomes highly valued and gives the child that sense of ownership of his or her reading experience.

The second B is for Bookbasket (or magazine rack) placed where it can be used most often:
There is probably more reading done in the bathrooms of America than in all the libraries and classrooms combined. Put a bookbasket in there stocked with books, magazines and newspapers. Put another one near the kitchen table. With more and more children eating at least one daily meal alone, this is a prime spot for recreational reading. If there's a book on the table, they'll read it, unless of course you're a foolish enough parent to have a television in your kitchen. Add as many as you can throughout the house.

The third B is for Bed Lamp:
Does your child have a bed lamp or reading light? If not, and you wish to raise a reader, the first order of business is to go out and buy one. Now you can say to your child, "Elizabeth, we think you're old enough now to stay up later at night and read in bed like Mom and Dad. So we bought this little lamp and we're going to leave it on an extra fifteen minutes (or longer, depending on the age of the child) IF you want to read in bed. On the other hand, if you don't want to read, that's okay too. We'll just turn out the light at the same old time." Most children will do anything in order to stay up later - even read.

Parents who worry about the impact reading in bed will have on children's eyesight can relax. Ophthalmologists have confirmed that reading in bed does not negatively effect vision. Even reading small print with poor lighting does not cause poor vision.

Then there are parents who worry about the child abusing the bedtime reading privilege. Parental supervision is needed and there are some new technological devices. IQ Lighting or Smart Bulbs can be found in your hardware store. One of the bulbs automatically turns off after ten minutes; another turns off after thirty minutes. But a third bulb slowly becomes dimmer until it is only as bright as a four-watt night light bulb. The dimmer the light, the sooner the eyes tire. By the time the bulb becomes very dim, the child's eyes will have become very tired and they will be ready to go to sleep.