Its title was Janet and John, Book 10, and it was for ten-year-old primary school kids. The Janet and John books had been used in schools since the 1950s. They were very simple, with lots of pictures and not too many words. Janet and John always did quite normal things, like running around, playing, climbing trees, kicking the dog and helping their parents with the gardening. I had the book for a couple of days to get to grips with it, then stood in front of the captain and read it to him. When I had finished, he said, ‘Now close it.’ I did as he told me. ‘McNab, remember this moment. The moment you closed the cover of the very first book you had ever read.’ ‘Yes, sir, I will.’ ‘So, McNab, what have you learned?’ ‘Well, that Janet and John like climbing trees and some new words.’ ‘Exactly. And the next book you’ll read, you’ll learn more, won’t you?’ I nodded. ‘Yes, sir.’ ‘And the book after that, you’ll learn something else. And then you might decide to go and read a different sort of book.
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