Wanting to be as well informed as possible when it came to raising my kids, I read just about every child-care book out there. I found this book to be the most comprehensive, easy to understand and reasonable. She gives the most extensive information concerning common(and not so common)childhood illnesses AND how to deal with them, and her views on child psychology are right on the mark. As with any author on this subject, you may not agree with EVERYTHING she says, but at least she provides explanations with possible solutions for most problems you'll encounter with children. I find myself referring to this book almost everytime I need information concerning my kids.

Her sense of humor is a real boon, and this is the book I give to anyone I know having a child. I saw she was criticized for the "illustrations" and lack of color, but if you need to be entertained and/or dazzled while reading a book of this nature maybe the welfare of your kids isn't your top priority!

This book has been our bible to child care. It helps you to raise empathetic, bright, wonderful children, while also telling you everything you need to know about colic, mumps, head lice and ear infections. I highly recommend this book for fathers, as I know it has made my husband a more patient, empathetic and enthusiastic parent. It covers every single thing you need to know from head to toe, heart to soul. It covers every stage of infancy to kindergarten, letting you know what to expect, physically and intellectually at each stage. When you are initially sent home with your infant, there are so many changes in the first weeks, it's nice to have a guidebook to know what is normal, what should be cause for concern, and how to navigate through all of it.

I found the book to be very well-written, and humorous whenever possible. Anyone with young children can appreciate the need to keep a sense of humour about the trials you will endure as a parent. I can't say enough about this book. I have bought it for every expectant parent I've known. I would love to thank the author for all the help her book has been to us.

This book is the most parent friendly reference book about small children that I have read. It far surpasses the concept that the "What to expect" series format popularized. It is easy to read. (Doesn't read like a medical textbook.) I particularly enjoyed the limits section and the essay on oppositional behavior as I have been having difficulty with my son with a strong personality since my second son was born. I have read Dr. Dobson and Dr. Brazelton extensively and understood concepts when dealing with a strong-willed child, but Dr. Nathanson's book provides vebatim examples and also includes how to look, what to make the child think and what your goal is in discipline. Her examples have helped enormously, and I am beginning to enjoy my 4-year old again instead of constantly engaging in a battle of wills with him all day long.

The book combines medical advice with behavioral information that I do not get at my well-child visits. (Which makes me question the quality of our visits...)

I must have the newer edition (white and blue), because mine does not have the horrible illustrations mentioned in previous reviews. I have already recommended this book to several fellow parents. And I was excited to see today that there is an older version for kids 5-12 as my oldest son is 4 and I was sad that the first book was ending at age 5. I would recommend the second book sight unseen just by how much I have liked the first volume.

I'm sorry to see this book is out of print -- it is worth reading, especially for those who are looking for help raising the preadolescent child, as guidebooks are difficult to find on the preteen.

Chapters are grouped by ages (5 and 6; 7 to 8; 9, 10, 11) and contain information about how each age group tends to develop physically and behaviorally, what parenting consists of in that age group, kids concerns, interests, learning curve, social skills and more.

Maybe not the best, but certainly one well worth having whether used or borrowed.