Guest Blogger Dale Brown is the Manager of LD OnLine, a website designed to improve the lives of people with learning disabilities. LD OnLine features expert advice on learning disabilities and ADHD and a library of research-based information on learning disabilities. Dale is also a well-known author in the learning disability world and her work includes Job Hunting for the So-Called Handicapped as well as hundreds of articles.

Books are on my gift list and as I do my holiday shopping, memories of my own first book flood my mind.

I have severe learning disabilities—and had a hard time reading at school. At home, my Mom would read to me while I spoke the words out loud and pretended to read.  She would point to the words, and show me the letters and sounds.  Mostly we just read.

My parents were always reading, providing a good model for me and doing things at home long before research suggested ways parents can help their children with reading. I noticed that they valued books and enjoyed them.  So, I wanted my OWN book.  One I could take to my OWN bed and look at the pictures and “read” it.

I didn’t think I would get a book of my own, because money was tight in our house. One day my Dad came home. He had a bag.  In the bag were several wrapped gifts. “I don’t know how I did it, Dale,” he said, “but I think you’ll like this.”  I tore open the paper and six books fell out!!!  My favorite—the one I consider my “first book”—was Ann Can Fly, a book about a girl whose father finally allows her to sit on his lap and “fly” a plane.  I wore those books out—they fell apart from my “reading.”

Books generate a lot of magic for the reader, but teaching reading and learning how to read takes real work.  For some children with dyslexia or other learning disabilities, reading is even more challenging.

It was a challenge for me and my early reading experiences have definitely influenced me as manager of LD OnLine.  Just as much as First Book wants to give a child that magical experience of book ownership, LD OnLine (and our sister projects Reading Rockets and AdLit.org) want to be there at the critical time that a parent, teacher or person wants information to teach the right way and help give a child the skills needed to enjoy the magic of books.

I hope you have many magic moments in 2009!