At the core of this text is the belief that learning to read should be a right for all children. From this viewpoint, the book constructs a bridge between current knowledge of reading processes and educational practice by incorporating a comprehensive range of theory, practice and research.

Topics covered include:
-- The centrality of literacy to school success
-- Writing systems as a springboard to reading
-- The nature of reading disabilities
-- The implementation of new literacy programs
-- Ways of fostering reading comprehension
-- Contemporary approaches to assessment
-- Common ground for those with holistic and traditional views.