You might find this essay interesting: How and Why I Taught my Toddler to Read, by Larry Sanger: http://larrysanger.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/How-and-Why-I-Taught-My-Toddler-to-Read.doc

Fyi, my son began reading and talking around the same time, shortly after the age of 2. Prior to that, he communicated through sign language. I kind of attribute his late talking to perfectionism. He also knew his alphabet by about 16 months. I do not feel that I pushed him to read at all; rather, I followed his interests as he devoured all knowledge that I could provide. He continues to do so.