Avril Brock has written several books in partnership with Carolynn Rankin on language, literacy and library services. She has recently published The Early Years Reflective Practice Handbook for early childhood educators. Avril has also written books and journal articles on play, professionalism, bilingualism and early language development. She has worked in higher education since 1989 at Bradford College and Leeds Metropolitan University, after beinghaving been a deputy head, primary and early years teacher in West Yorkshire, often working with linguistically diverse children. Avril's PhD longitudinal research elicited early years educators' thinking about their professionalism and this resulted in a typology of professionalism which has been developed across the early years interdisciplinary team. She has been involved in interdisciplinary partnerships with colleagues in West Yorkshire, Europe and the USA. Carolynn Rankin is currently a Visiting Fellow in the Faculty of Arts, Environment, and Technology at Leeds Metropolitan University. Carolynn worked as an information management specialist for 20 years before moving into professional education in 2000. Carolynn has interdisciplinary research interests, exploring the connections between civil society, social justice, and access to literacy and learning via libraries. Her current research projects include a longitudinal evaluation of the development of the Sister Libraries programme for the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA). Carolynn's professional activities include the role of External Examiner for the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) Professional Registration Board, and Assessor for CILIP Accreditation for Learning Providers. She is a member of the IFLA Standing Committee Library Theory and Research Section.

1. Take them to the library: the pathway of opportunity - Carolynn Rankin and Avril Brock 2. What you need to know about promoting early reading with young children from birth to five - Avril Brock and Carolynn Rankin 3. City of Literature ... it all starts with ABCD! The City of Melbourne and the Abecedarian Approach - Paula Kelly 4. Transforming practice through research: evaluating the Better Beginnings family literacy programme - Caroline Barratt-Pugh and Nola Allen 5. People and partnerships, skills and knowledge - Carolynn Rankin and Avril Brock 6. Resources for early years libraries: books, toys and other delights - Carolynn Rankin and Avril Brock 7. Using digital media in early years library services - Francesca de Freitas and Tess Prendergast 8. Using play to enhance early years literacy in babies and toddlers: 'Read, Play and Grow' at Brooklyn Public Library - Rachel Payne 9. Inclusive early literacy - Tess Prendergast 10. Music and rhyme-time sessions for the under-fives - Shelley Bullas and Ben Lawrence 11. Part 1: Reaching your audience: the librarian's role - Carolynn Rankin and Avril Brock Part 2: International perspectives: country case studies Australia: Storytime with Dad - Carolyn Bourke Croatia: Early reading programmes at Zadar Public Library - Dajana Brunac Denmark: Aalborg Bibliotekerne for all ages, including the youngest as V.I.P. library users - Maria Sjoblom Italy: Nati per Leggere - selecting the bibliography of recommended books - Giovanna Malgaroli Northern Ireland: Rhythm and Rhyme in Libraries NI - Marie-Elaine Tierney, Jessica Bates and Andrew Carlin Russia: Moscow State Library for Children: the A.P. Gaidar Central City Children's Library - Tatiana Kalashnikova Sweden: Library activities for children 0-5 years old: some best practices from Sweden - Ingrid Kallstrom 12. Successful library activities for the early years and ways to promote books effectively - Anne Harding 13. Designing family-friendly libraries for the early years - Carolynn Rankin and Rachel Van Riel 14. Planning: organizing projects and money matters in the early years library - Carolynn Rankin