"Just Memorizing Books"

Today the baby started to learn how to walk, so we removed everything like a couch or an end table from his path so he wouldn't just become dependent on them and never learn how to really walk on his own.
Unfortunately, I have actually attempted to do this to my kids when they were just starting to learn how to read.  I wouldn't want them to just memorize a book and turn the pages and "pretend" to read.  If I didn't make sure it was a book they didn't have memorized, they would never "really" learn how to read. 
Reading is the process of constructing an intended meaning from something, even if the person who intended the meaning is not there.  So when a child looks at a picture of the Grinch, and says "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas by Dr. Suess", they are technically reading that picture.


How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Now that I've seen it, I can't imagine anything so wonderful as seeing your child curl up with their favorite book that they've had memorized for years, and start to match up the words.  This is "Grinch" here, and that's "Grinch" there too!  That whole moment of discovery is my favorite thing in the world.  And they are reading, not because they can't get the information any other way, or to be as smart as someone else, but for the sheer joy of reading.  Just like dancing for the feel of dancing alone.