Introduction. Reading the difference / Myra Barrs -- A reading history / Valerie Walkerdine -- 1. Children and parents: Learning reading and learning gender / Sue Pidgeon -- From birth to sixteen months / Naima Browne -- Talking to parents / Julia Hodgeon -- Three ten year old boys and their reading / Hilary Minns -- 2. Texts: Gender wars / Lissa Paul -- Great adventures and everyday events / Sue Adler -- A traveller family / Pip Osmont -- 3. Teachers: From a different perspective / Michael Annan -- Sexing the avocado baby / Sara Haynes -- Changing the pattern / Sue Ellis