We should, then, welcome a series like Social Worlds of Childhood', based on psychology and sociology, the aim of which is to recover the flavour of childhood and adolescence in a systematic and sympathetic way.'... This is exactly the approach we need... It is an interesting project... There are some fascinating and perceptive readings, both of child and text, in Dr Adams' book... He has produced an interesting method... As a reminder of how complex the process of reading - and of decoding other people's reading - is, it is valuable. Peter Hunt, International Review of Childrens Lit, Winter 1986.