I have found Strategy of Conflict remarkably applicable to dealing with a toddler. And humans in general.
Also, small children are ruthless manipulators, for fairly obvious evolutionary reasons. You'll have plenty of material to sharpen your own rationality.
I'm currently trying to interest my daughter (just turned four) in reading. "You'll get all the stories!" It's easier and provides better entertainment value to get me or Mum to do the reading, though. But the Peter and Jane books are proving useful in getting her to read. Alphablocks and Sesame Street also actually work to teach kids the letters of the alphabet.
I don't remember how or why I learned to read (I sort of remember being able to read at least a little at the age of two, and my mom says I learned how by watching the TV show "The Electric Company") but I have more information about my younger brother, who was determined to learn to read because he wanted to play the same video games I did.
I'm looking for insight into "rational parenting".
By that term, I mean two things. One is parenting in a rational way. The other is raising a child who shares rationalist thought.