In an effort to improve the literacy of young pupils, every child born in Illinois will be able to receive a free book monthly until age 5, Gov. Rod Blagojevich announced Sunday.
I grew up surrounded by books. My major housekeeping dilemmas involve moving books around and making room for more. So I’m a little sad to remember that a lot of children in Illinois aren’t as fortunate. But I’m not so sure this is a good idea. It will be expensive.
The regular delivery of books to children's homes, regardless of income, would cost up to $26 million annually, but Blagojevich said it would be a worthy expense if it can aid literacy in a state where 2 in 5 3rd graders read below grade level.
Wouldn’t it be easier if these books were available for pick-up at local libraries. Then only those who need them would get them. And families would become familiar with local libraries. (The thought of people unfamiliar with libraries brings me uncomfortably close to a biblio-eugenics philosophy that would say these people shouldn’t be allowed to raise children.) Or does the governor think parents are too unmotivated to go looking for these books?

A book a month for 5 years. That’s 60 books. I’ve raised 6 children. I want my our 360 books. Why don’t you just send a Barnes & Noble gift card to the following address.... OK, and you may deduct the free set of Great Books. But remember, I didn’t get the full set.