Reading Development and Difficulties is a comprehensive and balanced introduction to the development of the two core aspects of reading: good word reading skills and the ability to extract the overall meaning of a text. Unique in its balanced coverage of both word reading and reading comprehension development, this book is an essential resource for undergraduates studying literacy acquisition Offers wide coverage of the subject and discusses both typical development and the development of difficulties in reading Accessibly written for students and professionals with no previous background in reading development or reading difficulties Provides a detailed examination of the specific problems that underlie reading difficulties