Children and childhood are almost completely ignored in most history books, encyclopedias, anthologies, and almanacs, which concentrate on the achievement of the adult half of the world's population. This book is intended to fill the gap by focusing on childhood, and presents an array of facts, anecdotes, profiles, and observations about children and childhood around the world and throughout history. Following a brief introduction noting that childhood is a valuable common thread in a time when many seem intent on stressing differences in race, class, culture and gender, the chapters of the book are: (1) "The History of Childhood"; (2) "Children in Folklore, Mythology, and Religion"; (3) "Childbirth and Newborns"; (4) "Health Care and Children with Disabilities"; (5) "Child Development"; (6) "Children and Family Life"; (7) "Child Rearing and Education"; (8) "Child's Play and Toys"; (9) "Children's Games and Sports"; (10) "Children, Art, and Music"; (11) "Children and the Entertainment Arts"; (12) "Children and Literature"; (13) "Children and Poverty and Violence"; (14) "Children of Peace and War"; (15) "Advocates for Children"; and (16) "Children and the Future." (Contains approximately 600 references. (HTH)