Your Child

August 31, 1998
Produced by members of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, this tome offers a clear and straightforward examination of issues of development behavior and psychological growth, for instance, separation anxiety, self-esteem and school readiness. Age by age, developmentally appropriate milestones are discussed, providing a chronology of physical, emotional, behavioral, cognitive, social and moral concerns that parents will face as they raise their children. Part I addresses such general pediatric concerns as allergies and when to introduce solid foods. Part II takes up a more tightly aimed discussion of day-to-day problem behaviors, such as tantrums, lying and aggression. Suggesting that in most cases such behavior problems are a part of normal developmental phases, the editors urge parents to follow their instincts and offer practical tips ("If possible, hold your child firmly during a tantrum"). Parts III and IV address problems that call for professional help (e.g., mental retardation, depressive disorders, learning disabilities), offering descriptions of disorders and abnormalities, with guidelines for when and where to seek help. Appendices include a glossary of psychiatric terms, a descriptive list of psychiatric medications, and an explanation of medial, psychological, educational and developmental tests. Pruitt, a psychiatry professor at the Univ. of Tennessee, Memphis, has compiled a comprehensive behavioral guidebook.

February 15, 1999
This title clearly aims to be a sort of "Doctor Spock" for parents of adolescents, helping parents to understand what behaviors are normal, how to help teens avoid problems, and how to handle those that do arise. In addition to discussing the milestones of normal development, common family, behavioral, physical, and emotional disorders are described and treatment options are discussed. The recommendations tend to be standard and general (Just how do you make a reluctant teen study? How do you respect your child's privacy and still monitor for signs of drug and alcohol abuse?), and troubled parents will need more in-depth information. Despite these quibbles, this is the most encyclopedic general treatment of the topic to be issued in years and will be a useful starting point for many parents. Recommended for all public libraries.--Mary Ann Hughes, Neill P.L., Pullman, WA

September 15, 1998
This is a comprehensive, up-to-date guide on children: what's "normal" development, what's not, and how to get help when problems arise. The organization here is the key, and it's excellent. Part 1 is arranged by age level, and Parts 2-4 deal with specific concerns (bullying, fears, delinquency, and substance abuse, to name a few), and disorders of all types. Pruitt, a child psychiatrist with the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, is the editor of this large work, with writings contributed by AACAP physicians. The 496 pages are not cluttered with stories and anecdotes; rather, Pruitt offers a single description and then provides analysis and remedies in short, concise order. Issues of the 1990s--single-parent families, culture clashes, gay parenting, school uniforms, human-made disasters, latchkey kids, and behavioral disorders--are featured prominently. An excellent manual that most readers will use for reference instead of reading straight through.--Linda Beck, Indian Valley P.L., Telford, PA