Lire et écrire book review: helping kids love reading books 2026

Lire et écrire, from the Mes p'tites questions collection, is a children's book that answers the questions kids actually ask about reading and writing. It came to my attention by chance, and it struck me as a useful tool for children who struggle with learning, or who simply wonder what the point of it all is.

Each double page tackles one question in short, precise texts that are accessible from about age six, paired with bright illustrations. The questions range from who invented writing to whether anyone will still read and write in 2050.

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Quick takeaways

• Answers real questions children ask about reading and writing
• Short texts and colourful illustrations, accessible from age six
• Explains why cursive helps you write faster
• Reassures children that everyone learns at their own pace
• Not liking reading is normal, and taste can change at any time
• Ends on an open question about the future of reading

What the book actually covers

The book opens with a short history of writing, and it starts with a surprising fact: we owe the invention of writing to merchants, who needed it to keep their accounts. The first form of writing was called cuneiform. Long before that, prehistoric people still left traces of themselves through drawings and engravings.

From there, reading and writing are presented in two lights at once, the useful and the pleasurable. Reading lets you learn new things, understand the past, store information that is hard to hold in memory, and find what you need. It also opens the door to imaginary worlds, and it helps to know how reading develops step by step. If you want to build a reading habit at home, the same principle applies as with books with flaps, which hook young children through play before they even notice they are learning.

A question of freedom

The book is honest: you can live without reading or writing, but it makes life much harder. Knowing how to read and write makes you freer and less dependent on others, much like controlling blood pressure during pregnancy keeps you in charge of your own health. That framing tends to land well with children who are tired of being told to practise.

The joined-up handwriting question, explained for children

Many children struggle with joined-up writing, and the book addresses it directly. Cursive allows you to write faster because the hand does not stop after every letter. It is a simple explanation that children can actually hold on to, rather than an adult saying "because that's how it's done".

The book also explains that every child learns to read at their own pace. Around six or seven, most children can read, and some need more time. It is never too late to learn. Reading does require practice, though: the more you read, the better a reader you become, and the best way to learn is simply to want to.

Once you can decode, you still have to understand the meaning of what you have just read, which takes attention and the ability to hold on to ideas. That gap between decoding and comprehension is exactly what trips up many children, and it is worth naming out loud. The same patience pays off with gross psychomotor skills, which also develop on each child's own timeline. Parents often hear unhelpful comments along the way, so it helps to know what not to a mother.

Not liking reading is not a failure

What matters, the book says, is that you can read. You are not obliged to love it, because everyone has their own tastes. Perhaps it is only a question of environment or choice, and the desire to read can be born at any moment. Sometimes it just takes the right book to trigger the click.

That message of kindness runs through the whole book: everyone goes at their own pace, and pleasure often arrives later than expected. For parents, it is a useful reminder to step back. The pressure we put on reading can backfire, much like the anxiety we feel over raising a child well when we confuse high expectations with good guidance.

A child who does not enjoy reading is not broken. They may simply not have met their book yet, and keeping a variety of material within reach, from comics to documentaries, keeps that door open.

A window onto the world's writing systems

Children also discover the history of printing and of the first book. They learn that many alphabets exist, that Chinese writing contains more than 3,000 signs, and that blind people can read thanks to Braille. At its origins, writing was closely tied to religion.

This outward-looking section is one of the book's real strengths. It turns a school skill into a human story, spanning civilisations and centuries. Some countries have even abandoned joined-up writing, which is a good conversation starter for a child who feels alone in their struggle with it. Curiosity of this kind is the same fuel that drives team sports for children who need a reason to commit. It also echoes how motherhood reshapes priorities in the brain.

What will reading look like in 2050?

The book ends on an open question: will we still read and write in 2050, and in what forms? Reading and writing are life-long acquisitions, and even if their shapes change, they will still be there. Should we worry about tablets, or welcome them? The book does not decide for the child, it opens the dialogue, which is exactly the right move.

How to use this book with a reluctant reader

This is not a book you read cover to cover in one sitting, and it does not need to be. Pick a single question that matches your child's mood, read the double page together, and let the conversation go where it goes. The format is short enough that a child who tires quickly can still finish a page and feel successful.

It also works well as a shared read for a child who is anxious about their own progress. Seeing that learning to read has a history, that alphabets vary, and that many children need more time takes the personal sting out of difficulty. If your child is dealing with a tougher period, the gentle tone here echoes the reassurance found in fear of hurting the baby, where naming a worry out loud is the first step to easing it.

Finally, keep the book visible on a shelf rather than filed away. Children return to question-and-answer formats on their own, often at the exact moment a question surfaces.

My hands-on take

I came across this book by chance, and my first thought was of the children I work with who find learning difficult. What convinced me was not the content itself but the tone: it never treats a struggling reader as a problem to fix. I have used single double pages as a warm-up before a reading session, letting the child choose the question. More than once, the question they picked was the one they had never dared to ask.

My practical advice is to leave it lying around rather than presenting it. Children pick up question-and-answer books when they are ready, and the conversation that follows is usually better than anything a planned lesson would produce.

Frequently asked questions

What age is this book suitable for?

It is written for children from about six years old, with short texts and colourful illustrations on every double page. Younger children can enjoy it read aloud, while older ones can browse it independently.

Is it only for children who already read well?

No. It is particularly useful for children who are learning, who struggle, or who question why they should bother. The tone is reassuring rather than demanding.

Does it push children to love reading?

It does the opposite in a clever way. It says plainly that you are not obliged to love reading, which often removes the pressure and lets curiosity return on its own.

Can parents use it as a conversation starter?

Yes. The open ending about the future of reading invites discussion, and each double page works as a short shared read rather than a lesson.