Books for Grown Ups

Below you will find a variety of non-fiction books addressing topics for help in parenting practices.  The focus is primarily on brain development as we now know how critical it is in a child's growth and development.  These current editions can be found at your local library or retail book seller.

Before the ABCs: Promoting School Readiness in Infants and Toddlers

by Rebecca Parlakian
This book examines the important role that cognitive and social-emotional skills play in preparing children for school and helps us understand the many ways that adults can support the development of school readiness in very young children.  The focus is on social-emotional competence, early literacy, and early numeracy.

Smart-wiring Your Baby's Brain: What You Can Do to Stimulate Your Child During the Critical First Three Years
by Winifred Conkling
Practical information and ideas to guide parents and caregivers in applying latest research in early brain development.

What's Going on in There?: How the Brain and Mind Develop in the First Five Years of Life
by Lise Eliot, Ph.D.
You'll understand the inner workings of the brain like never before. Learn the latest thinking on the nature vs. nurture question. Gain invaluable insights into the evolution of the senses, motor skills, social and emotional growth, memory, language, and intelligence. But most importantly, understand--maybe for the first time--exactly how great your contribution as a parent can be to the development of your young child's brain.

Babies Need Books
by Dorothy Butler
This resource for parents, teachers, and librarians uses facts, anecdotes, and recommendations to get adults excited about reading to children.

Your Baby and Child: From Birth to Age Five
by Dr. Penelope Leach
Dr. Leach describes the physical, intellectual, social, and emotional growth of children from birth to age five.

Your Child's Growing Mind: Brain Development and Learning from Birth to Adolescence
by Jane Healy
This book is a window into the fascinating process of brain development and learning. It looks at the roots of emotion, intelligence, and creativity, translating the most current scientific research into practical suggestions for parents and teachers.

Creative Resources for Infants and Toddlers
by Judy Herr and Terri Swim
This resource includes a wealth of information and activities to promote brain development in young children.  Each activity includes developmental goals and strategies as well as suggested materials to enhance brain development.

Innovations: Infant and Toddler Development
by Kay Albrecht and Linda G. Miller
This book focuses on the development of children from birth to age three.  It is a guide to the underlying ages and stages, theories, and best practices of the early childhood field.

Simple Steps: Developmental Activities for Infants, Toddlers, and Two-Year-Olds
by Karen Miller
Easy to follow explanation of key developmental stages in a young child's life along with examples of developmentally appropriate activities for each stage of development.

Setting Limits with Your Strong-Willed Child: Eliminating Conflict by Establishing Clear, Firm, and Respectful Boundaries
by Robert J. MacKenzie, Ed.P.
Learn how to create a positive, respectful, and rewarding relationship with your child.  Proven techniques and procedures are given that provide a refreshing alternative to the ineffective extremes of punishment and permissiveness.

Literacy and Young Children

by Diane M. Barone
This book presents current, research-based best practices for supporting young children's development as readers and writers.

How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk
by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish
This book provides practical, innovative ways to solve common problems and build foundations for a lasting relationship with your child.

Starting Out Right: A Guide to Promoting Children's Reading Success
by M. Susan Burns, Peg Griffin and Catherine E. Snow
This books presents a thorough guide to building a strong framework for reading, beginning in infancy and continuing through grade three.

The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander: From Preschool to High School, How Parents Can Help Break the Cycle of Violence
by Barbara Coloroso
Many find this book to be extremely helpful in how parents and teachers deal with bullying, an aspect of school that the author feels "is a life-and-death issue that we ignore at our children's peril."  Starting with a bottom-line assumption that "bullying is a learned behavior," Coloroso explains not only the ways that the bully, the bullied, and the bystander are "three characters in a tragic play" but also how "the scripts can be rewritten, new roles created, the plot changed."