...that it is apparently rather important to read stories to young children?
It was certainly news to me when I was at the library earlier with DD who was returning the books I have slaved over she has read for their holiday reading challenge.
The librarian was unpleasantly surprised to hear that DS (3), non-verbal, in his own world, occasionally screeching and taking no interest in the books whatsoever despite my best efforts was not taking part.
"Doesn't he have books at home?"
ARRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!! 
He has hundreds thanks and I am in a flipping library you silly woman so it isn't as if the only literature in our house is the Argos catalogue.
I explained that he is autistic and only really likes looking at them under his own steam and only then books about numbers, has never sat on my lap and been happy to be read to and her response to this was the perfectly logical, "well bring him along to story-time here then!"
Yes a large-group situation with books would work really well if he can't even cope with it 1:1 
That's my second rant today, sorry 