It is my pleasure to invite you to enjoy “The World of Words.” This book is a wonderful tool for parents to open the literacy box for their children. It is the start of a magic journey which will nurture them to become a part of the reading world. The book does not try to remedy, rather it focuses on preventing low literacy by promoting reading early in life.
My interest in literacy stems from my background as a teacher, and the recognition that literacy is the absolute key for people to function in our society. For adult learners, being able to read easily is the key to pursuing education and knowledge independently. Our ability to read gives us economic advantage in business and commerce. Our future direction in technology requires the ability to read text and other crucial information on a screen. Literacy is the key to safety, health, productivity, and participation in the mainstream. Without literacy we suffer; we are denied access in so many ways.
“The World of Words” is concrete, visible, enduring, and positive. It shows a personal understanding of the challenges parents face and shows that any parent can begin the journey to literacy from the first song they sing with baby on their lap. I encourage all parents to begin this journey from the moment your baby is born. Literacy is one of the most precious gifts you can give to your children.
Congratulations to Celia Jaipaul for taking the initiative to write “The World of Words,” and to the Red Deer Public Library and the Friends of Red Deer Public Library for providing support for its printing.
