Additional information
by Jacqueline Harding (Author), Rachael Sligo (Illustrator)
This guide accompanies two engaging storybooks, The Mud Cakes and The Treasure Hunt, designed to support young children's speech, language and communication development and their foundational knowledge of positional words.
Shaped by both scientific insight and lived experience, the guide delivers digestible research relating to communication and language development together with evidence-based strategies for supporting young children. It makes complex theory highly accessible and includes real-life examples, practical pointers and activity prompts to use while reading the storybooks. Throughout, the book also links to a variety of short videos on the companion website, bringing the theory to life in both concrete and joyful ways.
Used alongside the storybooks, this accessible guide is an essential tool for early years educators and primary teachers working with children from three to five years, as well as speech and language therapists and parents.
Author Biography
Jacqueline Harding is recognised for her work as an internationally acclaimed child development expert. She is an honorary visiting research fellow at Middlesex University and chair of the Bright Start Foundation. Jacqueline has held a variety of influential positions, such as BBC education editor, headteacher and government consultant. She is the author of numerous books for and about children and continues to work as a child development and education adviser in children's TV production.
Rachael Sligo is a children's illustrator and primary teacher based in Northumberland. She has been teaching for 23 years and leads English across her school. Rachael has illustrated numerous books for both self-publishing and traditionally published authors and is passionate about promoting reading for pleasure.
