This book is intended as a resource for those who create, adapt, and cope with settings for young children. It focuses particularly on all-day child care settings. Part 1, "Understanding Children's Settings," explores the power of the environment, or the "landscape" of children's lives--the array of settings they inhabit--and analyzes the dimensions and qualities of children's environments. Part 2, "Putting Quality Environments Together Piece by Piece," looks at how high-quality settings can be created. It addresses the building and site, interiors, care areas, storage, room arrangement, indoor learning environments, outdoor learning, and how to change and plan spaces. (Contains 141 references.) (EV)