By Jennie Lindon
(Hodder Arnold, ISBN 0 340 88669 2, 16.99, 020 7873 6000)
Reviewed by Marian Whitehead, language and early years consultant I was immediately impressed by the author's claim at the start of Chapter 1 that this is less of a 'what to do' book and much more of a 'think about what you do' book. It certainly lives up to that expectation and although it is a handsome and well-spaced book with lots of sub-headings, photos, diagrams and boxed text, it is a challenging and thought-provoking read.
Complex material appears in each chapter but it is carefully examined, explained and related to everyday experiences and early years practice.
Throughout, there are helpful boxed or highlighted features such as, 'What does it mean?', 'Make the connection with...', 'Take another perspective'.
There are detailed suggestions for further reading and study. I particularly enjoyed the chapters on 'Social and emotional development' and 'The importance of physical skills and movement' - I appreciate the way in which these two aspects of child development were given such a high priority.
This is a book for all child development students to keep by them as they study and for early years practitioners to use in their own continuing professional development.
