After G.N.P., the quantity of books in one’s home was the most important predictor of reading performance…The implications are clear: Owning books in the home is one of the best things you can do for your children academically. It helps, of course, if parents are reading to their children and reading themselves, not simply buying books by the yard as décor.

An interesting article, Our (Bare) Shelves, Our Selves , discussing the effect the loss of physical media as in books, newspapers, music (records, CDs, tapes) has on our opportunity to discover, share and learn using that media.