On Christmas Day I wanted to read my wife “The Night before Christmas” so had recourse to a remarkable set of books I’ve owned since my age was measured in single digits. They are entitled “My Book House,” edited by Olive Beaupre’ Miller, although in our household they were “the Book House Books.” Twelve in all, they are numbered according to reading/understanding levels, and my parents read tirelessly to me from them long before I was able to do that myself. In fact, I credit these books with my ability to read before starting school and that I was the best reader in every...