Use this alphabetical index to find books that have been reviewed for the Harried Parent's Book Club.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J-L | M-N | O | P-Q | R | S | T | U-V | W-Z
The Challenging Child
Cover image courtesy of PriceGrabber
By Stanley I. Greenspan, M.D., with Jacqueline Salmon; 318 pages. Subtitle: Understanding, Raising, and Enjoying the Five 'Difficult' Types of Children.
Bottom Line:What's really going on when a child is sensitive, self-absorbed, defiant, inattentive, active or aggressive? Dr. Stanley Greenspan, in his wonderfully reassuring way, describes the bundle of neurological, sensory, and developmental factors that combine to create those troubling types -- and how you can play your way through.
Bottom Line:What's really going on when a child is sensitive, self-absorbed, defiant, inattentive, active or aggressive? Dr. Stanley Greenspan, in his wonderfully reassuring way, describes the bundle of neurological, sensory, and developmental factors that combine to create those troubling types -- and how you can play your way through.
Cheating Destiny: Living With Diabetes, America's Biggest Epidemic
Cover image courtesy of Houghton Mifflin
By James S. Hirsch; 307 pages. From the Cover: "Cheating Destiny offers revealing views of the diabetic subculture, the urge toward secrecy that many diabetics feel, the glycemic rollercoaster they constantly ride, and the remarkable perseverance -- even heroism -- required for survival."
Bottom Line: There are books by parents of children with special needs, by adults dealing with disabilities, and by professionals explaining what the first two are doing wrong. Cheating Destiny blends the perspectives of parent and patient to challenge those "authorities" to stop blaming victims and find a real cure.
Bottom Line: There are books by parents of children with special needs, by adults dealing with disabilities, and by professionals explaining what the first two are doing wrong. Cheating Destiny blends the perspectives of parent and patient to challenge those "authorities" to stop blaming victims and find a real cure.
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Children With Special Needs
Cover image courtesy of Health Communications, Inc.
Edited by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Heather McNamara, and Karen Simmons; 332 pages. Subtitle: Stories of Love and Understanding for Those Who Care for Children With Disabilities.
Bottom Line: If you've ever read a Chicken Soup book, you know what's waiting for you here -- close to 100 stories, each just two or three pages long, telling tales to warm your heart. In this volume, the stories are about children with special needs, and indeed, they are an inspiring bunch. Even if you're usually unmoved by Chicken Soup stories, you may find some tears brewing here. Let them fall. It feels good.
Bottom Line: If you've ever read a Chicken Soup book, you know what's waiting for you here -- close to 100 stories, each just two or three pages long, telling tales to warm your heart. In this volume, the stories are about children with special needs, and indeed, they are an inspiring bunch. Even if you're usually unmoved by Chicken Soup stories, you may find some tears brewing here. Let them fall. It feels good.
The Child With Special Needs: Encouraging Intellectual and Emotional Growth
Cover image courtesy of PriceGrabber
By Stanley I. Greenspan, M.D., and Serena Weider, Ph.D., with Robin Simons; 496 pages. From the Book Jacket: "The comprehensive approach to developmental challenges including autism, PDD, language and speech problems, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, ADD, and other related disorders."
Bottom Line:That's a tall order -- an approach that works with all those varied diagnoses. But this book more than fills it. Just about any child would benefit from the sort of intensive parenting play described here.
Bottom Line:That's a tall order -- an approach that works with all those varied diagnoses. But this book more than fills it. Just about any child would benefit from the sort of intensive parenting play described here.
Childhood Speech, Language and Listening Problems
Cover image courtesy of PriceGrabber
By Patricia McAleer Hamaguchi; 218 pages. From the Book Cover: "Children with speech, language, or listening problems can look forward to less frustration, self-doubt, and misplaced blame for their limitations if they are properly diagnosed and treated and if their family is informed and supported."
Bottom Line: Whether you're trying to make sense of your child's communication problem or a speech therapist's report, this book offers a comprehensive overview of causes and treatments that can bring you up to speed.
Bottom Line: Whether you're trying to make sense of your child's communication problem or a speech therapist's report, this book offers a comprehensive overview of causes and treatments that can bring you up to speed.
Connected Parenting
Cover image courtesy of Avery
By Jennifer Kolari, MSW, RSW; 287 pages. Subtitle: Transform Your Challenging Child and Build Loving Bonds for Life - The Groundbreaking, Parent-Approved Program
Bottom Line: I'm a big believer in positive behavior support, and accutely aware of how wimpy it looks on paper. While it may seem impossibly soft and child-coddling to those raised to fear and obey, techniques like Connected Parenting are the ones you come to when you hit a wall with the tried and true. Stepping back and coming at the problem from a different angle isn't weak, it's smart. And if you're lucky, everybody feels empowered.
Bottom Line: I'm a big believer in positive behavior support, and accutely aware of how wimpy it looks on paper. While it may seem impossibly soft and child-coddling to those raised to fear and obey, techniques like Connected Parenting are the ones you come to when you hit a wall with the tried and true. Stepping back and coming at the problem from a different angle isn't weak, it's smart. And if you're lucky, everybody feels empowered.
Copy This!
Cover image courtesy of PriceGrabber
By Paul Orfalea & Ann Marsh; 225 pages. Subtitle: Lessons From a Hyperactive Dyslexic Who Turned a Bright Idea Into One of America's Best Companies.
Bottom Line: Orfalea, founder of the copy company Kinko's, is like a living embodiment of the theory of multiple intelligences. In this book that's a blend of biography and business philosophizing, he tells of his school tribulations and business triumphs, both entirely related to his learning weaknesses and strengths and ADHD energy.
Bottom Line: Orfalea, founder of the copy company Kinko's, is like a living embodiment of the theory of multiple intelligences. In this book that's a blend of biography and business philosophizing, he tells of his school tribulations and business triumphs, both entirely related to his learning weaknesses and strengths and ADHD energy.
Count Us In: Growing Up With Down Syndrome
Cover image courtesy of Harcourt
By Jason Kingsley and Mitchell Levitz; 198 pages. From the Cover: "At ages 19 and 22, respectively, Jason Kingsley and Mitchell Levitz shared their innermost thoughts, feelings, hopes, and dreams, their lifelong friendship, and their experiences growing up with Down syndrome."
Bottom Line: The dialogues that make up this book took place from 1990-1993, and were originally published in 1994. The book has now been re-issued with an afterword updating readers on a dozen years of adulthood for its authors. They're enjoyable company, and have interesting insights into DS life, and life in general.
Bottom Line: The dialogues that make up this book took place from 1990-1993, and were originally published in 1994. The book has now been re-issued with an afterword updating readers on a dozen years of adulthood for its authors. They're enjoyable company, and have interesting insights into DS life, and life in general.
