Like other handbooks from Sage Publications, this volume is a power-packed resource with a broad scope and in-depth contributed articles. Thirty-five contributions from academics and practitioners based in North America, the UK, and Australia address a gamut of topics organized according to the broad themes of perspectives; families, communities, and cultures across media and modes, early moves, preschool settings and schools, and research methodologies. More specifically, coverage includes postcolonial perspectives, gender, policy-making, disability, popular culture, making meaning, becoming biliterate, the development of spelling, assessment, the new technologies, and critical literacy in the early years, among many other topics. The editors are affiliated as follows: Joanne Larson (education, U. of Rochester, US) and Jackie Marsh (education, U. of Sheffield, UK). Annotation ©2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)