"My father reads a book."

Translation: Mio padre legge un libro.

[ackworth]

why do i not use il before padre?

[dnovinc]

The determinative article ("il") is not used with the possessive ("mio") before a singular family member

check these two links for details:

1. http://duolingo.com/#!/comment/276587

2. http://italian.about.com/library/fare/blfare124a.htm

[Geekelec]

Thanks a lot!