DD5 could sound some stuff out at 2, and has had the comprehension of basically an adult since 3... for three years, i thought she was on the brink of reading, but we never pushed and it just didn't really take off. which was no big deal - we could read to her for 10 hours straight, so we weren't concerned about a lack of Book Love!
long story short - this year she did various things: successfully hid her existing ability from her Pre-K teachers and peers, then got massively frustrated by this (terrible) strategy, acted out in class, then suddenly put her mind to getting through the lame readers they're pushing on her - simply so she'd never have to see them again. in the space of a few weeks, she started reading everything in sight. this morning she took Alice in Wonderland to school to read to the class. (and yes, i expect a call about appropriateness any minute, but after the year we've had, i didn't have the heart to stop her.)
at the end of the day, everyone learns to read - and it is breathtaking to see it happening. for us, after all she's been through, it seems even sweeter - and it was totally worth the wait.
