Yes it is. I love reading and books, my wife doesn't (although she is getting MUCH better, she just finished FoTR the other day), I have always been afraid that my children would grow up not liking books. I think I worried for nothing. My daughter and oldest son both like to read. I bought a book by G.A. Henty (no pictures, well there are illustrations scattered throughout the book, but it essentially has no pictures) for Josh, who is seven, thinking that I would read it to him. However, I came home from work one night and he was reading it all on his own, and understanding the story (it is a story of Wallace and Robert the Bruce).
Kind of makes a pappy happy. ;^)
-Kevin
Another thing, as I've mentioned before...I was a drama major when I was a kid and although I don't have anything to do with it now, I love reading to my boys using full drama! I read to them every night. Another thing I do, after reading and prayers...I put in a CD or audiocassette of Adventures in Odyssey. Ever heard of it? It's a radio program that lasts about 25 minutes. Full sound effects and everything. Anyway, they listen to the program and then it shuts off automatically and they fall asleep. Usually the 3 year old is already asleep, but lately he's even been telling me the stories the next day. It's a radio program, so they have to "see" the pictures inside their heads. I just can't help but think this helps develop their imagination.