Books, and talking about the books, are terribly important for your child. In our world there is an enormous premium on being verbal. Quite literally, words are power, and it's kids who grow up in verbal families who become verbal themselves. I'd like to say it's good for the child if the family argues. I mean argues verbally, discusses issues and debates. That gives your child practice in using words, shaping sentences and organizing his thoughts.
Books can foster discussion. At first, ask simple questions, get your child to talk. Ask "What happened next?", "Where is the mouse hiding?", "Why is Papa Bear angry?". Later, try to illicit discussion. "What do you think will make Eyore happy?"
Books lend themselves to such discussion much more than the solitary pleasures of T.V. That's why the combination of a book and your participation is so important in making your child an active reader who's learning to use words and learning to think.