The development of both word reading and text comprehension are outlined. In the section on the development of word reading, we discuss the different ways in which words can be read, how reading strategies change with development, and how these ideas have been captured in models of reading development. In the section on comprehension skills, we outline the development of important component processes in comprehension: inference making, metacognitive skills, and understanding of how texts are structured. Finally, we discuss possible sources of comprehension difficulties in children.