Marian R Whitehead was formerly a Senior Lecturer in Education at Goldsmiths College, University of London, with responsibility for organizing and teaching M.A. degrees in Language and Literature and Early Childhood Education. She has published extensively on literacy, literature and bilingualism and is a co-editor of the journal Early Years. She now combines writing with language and early years consultancy work.She is the co-editor of Early Years, An International Journal of Research and Development. She is a well known author, and her books include How to Develop Children's Early Literacy, with Makin, L (Paul Chapman Publishing 2003), Developing Language and Literacy with Young Children,… Second Edition (Paul Chapman Publishing, 2002) Supporting Language and Literacy in the Early Years (1999) Open University Press.