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The latest findings on the mental, emotional, and physical life of the human infant, presented in nontechnical language and user-friendly A-Z format.

Just three centuries ago, people began to recognize a child's first 18 months as a significant developmental period, and only in the last quarter century has infancy become the subject of intensive, interdisciplinary research. In fields ranging from social work to nursing, from nutrition to early childhood education, and from occupational therapy to speech pathology, researchers have focused on infants.

Covering a broad range of topics, Infancy in America details the explosion of new theories and knowledge that has overturned many long-held notions. Brain development research and extensive sociological studies have generated public awareness of the importance of infancy. This encyclopedia details recent concepts and findings, critical issues in the field, and some of the individuals who have helped shape it.

More than 500 entries, ranging from down-to-earth child-rearing advice to summaries of the latest research in medicine and developmental psychology Contributions by 31 experts from a broad range of disciplines, including medicine, education, psychology, and sociology

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Library Journal Review

Only recently (in approximately the last 300 years) has infancy been recognized as an important stage in human development. This two-volume set on infancy features articles written by academics specializing in child psychology and human development. The alphabetically arranged entries, which range in length from a few sentences to several pages, cover concepts such as adaptation, developmental delay, and scaffolding and also include biographies of major contributors to the field such as Arnold Gesell and Jean Piaget. Longer articles address topics such as adolescent parenting, child abuse and neglect, play, and prenatal development. The approach is multidisciplinary, integrating clinical and policy issues and noting the diverse medical, psychological, and psychoanalytical influences that are part of child development studies. Ample cross references help users locate material, and the longer articles have supplemental reading lists. Two appendixes offer an annotated list of resources on infants and toddlers (web sites, books, videos) and the lyrics of popular songs for infants and toddlers. An extensive bibliography augments the text. While the Handbook of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (Wiley, 1997), Handbook of Clinical Child Psychology (Wiley, 2001. 3d ed.), and The Children's Hospital Guide to Your Child's Health and Development (LJ 2/1/01) include some of the same material, their scope is broader since they cover all of childhood and adolescence. Infancy in America is in fact unique in its focus on the earliest part of childhood. Although readers may note some minor exclusions, such as the lack of entries for Gesell's collaborators Louise Bates Ames and Francis Ilg and a slight anticircumcision bias, they will appreciate the large amount of interesting, useful material on subjects as diverse as preparing siblings for birth and family systems. Highly recommended for all collections. Barbara M. Bibel, Oakland P.L., CA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

CHOICE Review

Editors Honig (Behavior Guidance for Infants and Toddlers, 1996) and Fitzgerald (Handbook of Infant Mental Health, 2000) have long and distinguished records in the field of infant and children studies. This set, one of six encyclopedias in ABC-CLIO's "American Family" series, is a solid compilation of articles on a wide variety of topics relating to infancy. Entries, arranged alphabetically, range in length from one or two sentences to several pages, and cover such topics as behavior assessment, history of child care, babbling, Apgar scale, voluntary hand use, patterns of child rearing, and eye contact. The entries are well written and include little jargon. Certain topics, such as breastfeeding, health and safety, and prenatal development, among others, are treated in detail, with illustrations, charts, references, and further readings. There is an extensive general bibliography. The encyclopedia therefore serves as both a quick reference resource and a good foundation for further study. Two appendixes cite with annotations Internet sources, books, and videos, and include song lyrics for infants and toddlers. Recommended for public libraries and undergraduate collections. B. Quarton California State University--San Bernardino

Booklist Review

Boyhood in America and Infancy in America are the fourth and fifth members of a series from ABC-CLIO, The American Family, following Parenthood in America (2000), Adolescence in America [RBB O 15 01], and Girlhood in America (2001). The volumes of Boyhood in America include about 150 articles by approximately 120 experts in their fields. A check of the credentials of the authors shows a breadth of knowledge and expertise. The editors define boyhood as the "stage of the life cycle in terms of time, beginning at birth and continuing until the individual reaches some definition of self-sufficiency" at around age 20. Topics span a period from the seventeenth century to the present and take into account regional, class, racial, and ethnic differences. Examples include Fathers, adolescent; Films (which discusses portrayal of boys in films ranging from Charlie Chaplin's The Kid to The Sixth Sense), Fire companies, Fishing, Foster care, Fraternities, and Frontier boyhood. Each entry includes a list of suggested readings that appear to be both timely and to the point. In addition, at the end of volume 2 there is a 75-page bibliography that would make the set worth its price. If this pair of volumes suffers from anything it is the same thing as the other encyclopedias in this series: the small number of photos and the total lack of color. Infancy in America has over 600 entries, but only 29 contributors, almost all of them faculty at one academic institution. Entries are unsigned. The set is narrower in focus than Boyhood in America, for although some entries provide a historical perspective, emphasis is on "the latest findings on the mental, emotional, and physical life of the human infant." The audience is defined as "parents, practitioners, and professionals." Articles range from Abortion and Afterbirth to Toileting and Toys for Tots, varying in length from a single sentence (Brain structure, Conscience) to more than 10 pages (Emotion). The preface states that one use for the set is to read the description of an area of interest and then "follow up with the references provided to gain more information," but citation of references and further reading is uneven. For example, the further reading list for Grandparents includes several resources on Down Syndrome, but the entry Genetic disorders, where Down Syndrome is discussed, has no resource list at all. Volume 2 contains appendixes: "Resources on Infants and Toddlers" (Internet sources, books, and videos) and "Popular Songs for Infants and Toddlers" plus a bibliography. The bibliography is adequate and the resources seem potentially useful, but the 20 or so songs are in no order and add nothing to the usefulness of the volume. Boyhood in America serves as a good introduction to an emerging area of study and is recommended for high-school, public, and academic libraries. Infancy in America is recommended only for libraries that have no coverage in this area or wish to have all the parts of this series in their collection.

Notas de autor provistas por Syndetics

Alice Sterling Honig is professor emerita of child development at Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY and consultant to numerous national programs for infants and toddlers.

Hiram E. Fitzgerald is University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI.

Holly Brophy-Herb is assistant professor in the Department of Family Ecology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI.