Here is another really good one about how good reading is for you as a human being: What Good Is Literature? by Beth Ann Fennelly
Here is a piece from the New York Times children's books editor about the importance of reading to children. It includes a link to a helpful guide about reading to children from birth on: Want to Raise Your Child to Love Reading? Read These Secrets by MARIA RUSSO
Where can you find free digital books? For various formats including Kindle and iPad, go to Project Gutenberg; or to search by Dewey Decimal number for a free digital book go to www.books-on-line.com (all links open in a new browser window).