The book was, in the first instance, written for the author's own undergraduate students at Florida Atlantic University, where she is a professor of psychology. In the opening chapter she persuades the reader that the study of language development is worthwhile by showing how students from a variety of disciplines benefit from it and by explaining its practical applications. In my own experience this topic is very popular with undergraduates anyway, and so I was slightly surprised that it needed any advertising. However, her message extends beyond trying to instill enthusiasm in her students as it also emphasizes the need for a multidisciplinary approach to the topic.