Whose Childhood Is It?

An important textbook that promotes thoughtful engagement with key issues and theories that inform an understanding of childhood development. Review: This book sets out key issues and theories that inform our understanding of childhood. Nursery World, November 2009 . ..it provokes further key questions and evokes discussion around big issues...an academic text that strives for a user-friendly approach - it has key questions and reflection boxes throughout, chapter summaries and suggested further reading.

With 10 highly qualified contributors, students of Early Childhood Studies, early years professionals and those training to be early years practitioners will find a thought provokingly informative text and a useful resource to add to their collection. EYE, December 2009 'I found this book interesting, readable and, at times, challenging.

The authors have managed to thread the title question through each chapter...This book is well organised, with many techniques designed to engage the reader in reflection and in seeking further knowledge of the issues at stake...It could be a very useful learning and teaching tool.'--Sanford Lakoff 'This book offers an insightful and provocative analysis of the factors that shape contemporary childhoods and the role that children themselves play in this process.

The authors challenge restrictive policy-making that is driven by economic and political concerns and instead emphasise the need to respect the voices and agency of children, as expressed through multimedia, multimodal meaning-making practices. This is a book that will be of great value to students and early years educators and will enable them to engage critically with some of the key issues currently informing early childhood policy and practice.' Professor Jackie Marsh, Sheffield University --Sanford Lakoff 'The text provides a clear and provocative introduction to a number of themes and issues that are central to the contemporary study of early childhood...The inclusion of activities, case studies and questions ensure that complex ideas are addressed in a lively and engaging way.' Professor Trisha Maynard, Swansea University --Sanford Lakoff