"One of the most powerful, most wisely balancedand best informed books on the development of thechild's mind to have appeared in twenty years. Itsimplications for education are enormous'JEROME BRUNERFirst published in 1978, Children's Minds has become a classicinquiry into the nature of human thought. Margaret Donaldsonshows how thought and language originally depend upon theinterpersonal contexts within which they develop, and how,given the support of such contexts, children are already skilledthinkers and language users by the time they come to school.However, when school begins, success depends on thedevelopment of new modes of thinking. Margaret Donaldsonshows what these entail and analyses the difficulties which theypresent. She claims that we have not fully understood the natureof these difficulties and so have not known how best to helpchildren deal with them. She suggests a range of strategies thatcan be used, arguing that the way in which reading is taught iseven more important than we have supposed.This book is essential reading for all who are interested in thedevelopment of the human mind.'A book of great, and very general significance... a classic"-- JACK TIZARD