Carol Hayes has worked in early years for the last 40 years as a teacher and tutor. She worked at Staffordshire University for six years as a principal lecturer and academic group leader, where she helped to develop a thriving early childhood studies department with programmes from foundation degrees to Masters in early childhood. Her specialist areas are cognitive development, language, literacy and communication and her main research interests are dyslexia and communication difficulties and the role of graduate teaching assistants in the workforce.

• Foreword About the author Chapter 1 – Origins of Language Chapter 2 – Receptive Language and Listening Chapter 3 – The Oral Tradition Chapter 4 – Scribblers to Scribes Chapter 5 – The Foundations of Reading Chapter 6 – Specific Learning Difficulties Chapter 7 – Gender Influences Chapter 8 – Living with Language---The Literate Environment Chapter 9 - Books and Stories Chapter 10 –The Holistic Child ----A Whole Brain Approach to Language Acquisition Glossary Index

I haven’t found anything that I dislike about this book! It is clearly laid out and easy reading. There is a lot of useful theory analysis too! - Fiona Pavey, Yoevil CollegeI really liked this book and read it almost at one sitting...I particularly liked the layout of the book which was clear. The text was informative and the added elements of critical questions, chapter reflections, developing critical thinking and case studies were particularly useful. - Sharon Drew, University of South WalesThis text is really very good in terms of accessibility and set out clearly and makes it easy to follow through the text and format of sections diagrams and pictures. - Dr Estelle Martin, University of East London

Carol Hayes has worked in early years for the last 40 years as a teacher and tutor. She worked at Staffordshire University for six years as a principal lecturer and academic group leader, where she helped to develop a thriving early childhood studies department with programmes from foundation degrees to Masters in early childhood. Her specialist areas are cognitive development, language, literacy and communication and her main research interests are dyslexia and communication difficulties and the role of graduate teaching assistants in the workforce.

• Foreword About the author Chapter 1 – Origins of Language Chapter 2 – Receptive Language and Listening Chapter 3 – The Oral Tradition Chapter 4 – Scribblers to Scribes Chapter 5 – The Foundations of Reading Chapter 6 – Specific Learning Difficulties Chapter 7 – Gender Influences Chapter 8 – Living with Language---The Literate Environment Chapter 9 - Books and Stories Chapter 10 –The Holistic Child ----A Whole Brain Approach to Language Acquisition Glossary Index

I haven’t found anything that I dislike about this book! It is clearly laid out and easy reading. There is a lot of useful theory analysis too! - Fiona Pavey, Yoevil CollegeI really liked this book and read it almost at one sitting...I particularly liked the layout of the book which was clear. The text was informative and the added elements of critical questions, chapter reflections, developing critical thinking and case studies were particularly useful. - Sharon Drew, University of South WalesThis text is really very good in terms of accessibility and set out clearly and makes it easy to follow through the text and format of sections diagrams and pictures. - Dr Estelle Martin, University of East London

Carol Hayes has worked in early years for the last 40 years as a teacher and tutor. She worked at Staffordshire University for six years as a principal lecturer and academic group leader, where she helped to develop a thriving early childhood studies department with programmes from foundation degrees to Masters in early childhood. Her specialist areas are cognitive development, language, literacy and communication and her main research interests are dyslexia and communication difficulties and the role of graduate teaching assistants in the workforce.

• Foreword About the author Chapter 1 – Origins of Language Chapter 2 – Receptive Language and Listening Chapter 3 – The Oral Tradition Chapter 4 – Scribblers to Scribes Chapter 5 – The Foundations of Reading Chapter 6 – Specific Learning Difficulties Chapter 7 – Gender Influences Chapter 8 – Living with Language---The Literate Environment Chapter 9 - Books and Stories Chapter 10 –The Holistic Child ----A Whole Brain Approach to Language Acquisition Glossary Index

I haven’t found anything that I dislike about this book! It is clearly laid out and easy reading. There is a lot of useful theory analysis too! - Fiona Pavey, Yoevil CollegeI really liked this book and read it almost at one sitting...I particularly liked the layout of the book which was clear. The text was informative and the added elements of critical questions, chapter reflections, developing critical thinking and case studies were particularly useful. - Sharon Drew, University of South WalesThis text is really very good in terms of accessibility and set out clearly and makes it easy to follow through the text and format of sections diagrams and pictures. - Dr Estelle Martin, University of East London