I hate to argue with giving books to kids...

... but apparently I am not the only one a little bit worried about Governor Blagojevich's plan to give every kid in Illinois under the age of five a book every month.

I'm all about giving kids books. I agree that it is important for kids to have books in their homes. Jim Trelease cites research that supports the importance of a print-rich climate.

In a perfect world, I'd be planning the parade in The Governor's honor. In this time of budget deficits, though, doesn't it make more sense to fund and promote library services so that every child in Illinois could have potentially unlimited access to books in the home? Doesn't it? Well, I think so, anyway...