They weren't Golden Books, were they? My brother had a collection of them that were well read by the time they came to me. Like Shoshanna, I don't remember not being able to read. My brother practiced his reading on me when I was pretty small...I think that helped. I know the first thing I wrote. My mother regretted teaching me how to print my name, because I then proceeded to write and CARVE my name into everything that had anything faintly resembling a writing surface (including tables, hangers, chairs).