Maintains that Tabors' edited work is the most comprehensive and practical book on the topic available and an essential part of the knowledge base for early care and education professionals. Highlights the book's practical suggestions, concrete examples to illustrate language principles, and recommendations for teachers. Asserts that the content…

Describes Ellsworth and Ames' edited book as an eclectic collection including historical, ethnographic, autobiographical, empirical, and self-reflective texts. Maintains that although the book is an important contribution to the literature by placing current practices into historical and social context, thereby leading to a more critical view of…

Considers Boysson-Bardies' book a thorough and thought-provoking description of early language development and the research related to how infants learn to talk and respond to speech. Notes the value of the book's discussion of cross-cultural variation in vocabulary development and individual differences related to special education. (JPB)

Notes that Obiakor et al's edited volume places special education within a cultural framework and identifies general and special education institutional practices that result in cultural diversity being recast as an individual deficit. Argues that the book fails to deal sufficiently with intersections of race, culture, and class that are critical…

Describes "Studying Children in Context" as a reader- friendly book that situates studying children within the process of conducting qualitative research. Notes strengths including discussion of ethics and methods of data generation and organization, and inclusion of case studies that illuminate researchers' struggles. Notes limitations including…

Maintains that "Beyond Quality in Early Childhood Education and Care" is the most far-reaching exploration to date of the implications of postmodern thinking for early childhood education. Notes that the book's great strength is its careful construction of an alternative way of thinking about early childhood and its institutions, and about viable…

Summarizes Bruer's work, which questions the prevailing emphasis on the first 3 years as most critical to brain development. Notes that the book both elucidates a "blueprint" for mounting an effective public awareness campaign, and provides an excellent synopsis of implications of contemporary neuroscience for early childhood education and public…

Maintains that Schorr's provocative book omits consideration of the basic question raised: whether the social reform the book seeks is possible without a sea change in national politics. Suggests that the book's insights should spur policy makers, nonprofit sector leaders, agency officials, community builders, and philanthropists to use resources…

Notes that variety and difference in writing styles, methodology, and theoretical perspectives are both the greatest strength and greatest limitation of this book containing articles on child, adult, and animal play written by authors from education, psychology, anthropology, and sociology. Suggests that readers can gain theoretical and…

Maintains that the strength of Bronson's book lies in its synthesis and connections to the major ideas in both developmental and educational psychology. Notes that the book's predictable organization makes it a handy resource for professionals working with children from birth to age 8, but suggests that the depth of knowledge displayed raises…

Maintains that the primary contribution of Wolfberg's book is its integration of various research literatures and its rich case studies, though its noncritical stance toward prevailing diagnostic paradigms for autism might be a shortcoming. Suggests that the book's reference to developmental stages is remarkably traditional for a text that…

Suggests that Corsaro's well-written book has a number of especially useful sections, specifically those on the history of childhood, social problems, and children's cultures. Notes that segments from Corsaro's and other researchers' work and numerous photographs and figures contribute to the book's accessibility. Problems noted include the…

Notes that second edition of "The Hundred Languages of Children" emphasizes rethinking images of adults as teachers, parents, and citizens; highlights the role of documentation; and adds chapters offering reflections related to negotiated learning, professional development and policy, and cultural assumptions about children and society. Identifies…

Reviews Goldstein's book exploring the contributions feminist thinking could make to early-childhood-education practices, particularly the role of love in teaching. Considers the value of descriptions of classroom interactions to be teacher-friendly and accessible, and Goldstein's assertion that love alone is not enough but must be supplemented by…

Reviews Cannella's book which questions assumptions of early-childhood education and child development. Asserts that children develop in a progressive, stage-related fashion that blends with adulthood rather than being separate from it. Considers the quality of the theoretically rich investigation and reconceptualization of early education. (JPB)