Several of the following books are out of print -try www.abebooks.co.uk or Amazon Marketplace to obtain copies.

If you've only got time to read one book, read this one: Why Children Can't Read: and what we can do about it. Diane McGuinness, with a foreword by Prof. Steven Pinker. Pub. Penguin. (USA edition: Why our children can't read and what we can do about it. Pub. Simon& Schuster) N.B. This book first appeared in 1997 and includes strong criticism of 'phonics' programs. Prof. Diane McGuinness was not at that time aware of the modern UK synthetic phonics programmes. They were brought to her attention and, having thoroughly examined the research base for Jolly Phonics and other premier UK programmes, she fully endorses UK-style synthetic phonics in her latest books -see below. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diane_McGuinness

Early Reading Instruction: what science really tells us about how to teach reading. Diane McGuinness. MIT Press. Highly Recommended.
This book is available for review on Google Books: http://books.google.com/books?id=geCphXcHm30C&printsec=frontcover&dq=Early+Reading+Instruction#PPP1,M1

Language Development and Learning to Read:The Scientific Study of How Language Development Affects Reading Skill. This is a complementary volume to Diane McGuinness's 'Early Reading Instruction': Highly Recommended.

Diane McGuinness responds to Charles Hulme's critique of her two books 'Early Reading Instruction' and 'Language Development and Learning to Read' www.syntheticphonics.com/articles/Response%20to%20Charles%20Hulme.pdf

Why Schoolchildren Can't Read. Bonnie Macmillan. Pub. IEA.
Highly Recommended. An academic, British book: essential reading if you're interested in what the research actually says about the best ways to teach reading and the present disparity between research and practice.
www.libertarian.co.uk/lapubs/educn/educn029.pdf The harm done by 'look and say': a reaction to Bonnie Macmillan's book by Brian Micklethwaite.

www.rrf.org.uk/newsletter.php UK Reading Reform Foundation newsletters.

Illiteracy in America: Understanding and Resolving a Grave National Problem. Hattyar. Published online at: www.donpotter.net/PDF/Illiteracy%20in%20America.pdf

In Spite of the Alphabet: a study of the teaching of reading. Hunter Diack. Pub. Chatto & Windus (1965). Very interesting and readable guide to the history of the teaching of reading in the UK. Diack was joint author of the phonic 'Royal Road Readers' available in the 1960s.

Progress in Understanding Reading and Learning to Read: From Politics to Science. Stanovich. Guilford Press. Recommended. This academic book summarizes the gains that have been made in key areas of reading research and provides authoritative insights on current controversies and debates.
www.nrrf.org/ivey_review_TCR.htm

Reading Fever: Why phonics must come first. Turner / Burkard. Pub. Centre for Policy Studies. http://www.cps.org.uk/

www.nrdc.org.uk/uploads/documents/doc_166.pdf Developmental dyslexia in adults: a research review

www.aowm73.dsl.pipex.com/dyslexics/KerrCh8.pdf Chapter 8, 'Dyslexia', from Hugo Kerr's book 'The cognitive psychology of teaching literacy'

Speech to Print: language essentials for teachers. Moats. Pub. Brookes. English Language study guide designed for educators and includes practice exercises with answers.

Does Dyslexia Exist? by Julian Elliott and Simon Gibbs. Journal of Philosophy of Education. Volume 42 Issue 3-4. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/121657387/abstract A copy of this paper can be obtained through the library service.

Dyslexie, une vraie-fausse épidémie (Dyslexia: A True Pseudo-Epidemic) Colette Ouzilou. Presses de la Renaissance. 2001.

www.phonicsinternational.com/guidance_book.pdf Debbie Hepplewhite's Overview and Guidance booklet gives an outline of synthetic phonics principles in succinct form.

Teaching Synthetic Phonics. Johnston /Watson. Pub. Learning Matters. Definitive guide to teaching synthetic phonics, written by the researchers who carried out the famous Clackmannanshire study. The new DCSF programme 'Letters and Sounds' is referred to thoughout this book. CAUTION: this book recommends the teaching of letter NAMES from the beginning. www.learningmatters.co.uk/sampleChapters/9781844451210-5.doc Sample Chapter 5.

Why Johnny Can't Read: and what you can do about it. Flesch. Pub. HarperCollins.
The original 'Why' book, first published in 1955. American.

Growing a reader from birth: your child's path from language to literacy. Diane McGuinness. Pub. Norton.
Recommended. A guide to understanding a child's emerging language from first babblings to a five year old's mastery of reading.

Why Boys Are Different: And How to Bring Out the Best in Them. Dr. Bonnie Macmillan. Pub. Barron's. Recommended. Researched based, easy to read, written for the parents of babies and young boys.

If you register at the Core Knowledge Bookstore you can download a free copy of Ted Hirsch's booklet 'Teaching Kids to Read'
http://www.coreknowledge.org/bookstore/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=36

Understanding Phonics and the Teaching of Reading: Critical Perspectives. Eds.Goouch/Lambirth. Pub. OUP. CAUTION: bizarrely, despite its title, this book is written by whole language advocates and reveals their hostility towards synthetic phonics.