Intended to encourage parents to help their children acquire early reading skills at home, this paper provides a rationale and recommendations for early reading instruction. Following an introduction, the sections of the paper discuss (1) the historical background of beginning reading, (2) the benefits of early reading, (3) early reading case studies, (4) teaching methods for early reading, (5) recommendations to parents, and (6) the implications of early reading instruction. A five-page bibliography is included. (HTH)