Q. How do you know if your child can read a book by himself?

A. Have your child give the book The Five Finger Test.

1. Open the book in the middle.
2. Start reading at the top of the page.
3. Put up one finger for each word you don't know or can't read without help.
4. Read to the end of the page.
5. If you have five fingers up at the end of the page, the book is too hard to read by yourself. (Wave bye-bye and put it back on the shelf.)