Are you the parent or carer of a young child, keen to help with school work at home - but worried that you might not do a good job? Caroline Coxon is here to help with a quick overview on how best to help a child with their reading and writing. This book will:

-Give you ideas for activities
-Give you advice on choosing the right time and situations to encourage reading and writing practice at home
-Show you what schools are trying to do
-Show you what children are expected to learn at a given age

-Give you an overview on phonics and the National Literacy Strategy

Presented as a colourful and easy-to-follow guide, this book will demystify what children are being taught in school and will show you that there are many ways you can help your child with their reading and writing at home.
Most of all, it will show you that you are the very best person for the job, and gives you the incentive to spend quality time with your child so that you can learn together and improve your child's chances to do well and be happy in school. Not only that: it gives you the opportunity to have lots of fun along the way!

René Chartrand was born in Montreal and educated in Canada, the United States and the Bahamas. A senior curator with Canada's National Historic Sites for nearly three decades, he is now a freelance writer and historical consultant. He has written numerous articles and books including over 30 Osprey titles. He lives in Gatineau, Quebec, with his wife and two sons.

Gerry Embleton has been a leading illustrator and researcher of historical costume since the 1970s, and has illustrated and written Osprey titles on a wide range of subjects over more than 20 years. He is an internationally respected authority on 15th and 18th century costumes in particular. He lives in Switzerland, where since 1988 he has also become well known for designing and creating life-size historical figures for museums.