This accessible text brings together research on word reading and comprehension development, which are often treated separately, and provides a comprehensive and detailed introductory text to reading development and difficulties. Key features include: An introduction to the important issues in reading research and the skills involved in reading words and understanding text, from the point of view of both a beginner and a skilled reader A consideration of the similarities and differences between written and spoken language, and the advantages and disadvantages of different methodological approaches An examination of how failures in reading comprehension skills can create difficulties and disorders A consideration of the implications of this research for the teaching of reading and the.