The Secret of Happy Children: Why Children Behave the Way They Do- and What You Can Do to Help Them to be Optimistic, Loving, Capable and Happy
This book by an Australian psychologist with more than 20 years'  experience has sold more than one million copies worldwide, and  this accessible North American edition will win over many more  readers. Using the premise that children's happiness depends  upon parents or other adults who share in child rearing, the  author explains how to interact positively with children, from  infancy to adolescence. Simple language, anecdotes, line  drawings, and charts describe scientific findings related to  parent-child communication. For example, Biddulph highlights the  benefits of an extended family and shows how to adapt one's own  situation to create one; this segues beautifully into another  chapter, which explains that parents should make time for  themselves and not become run-down. Some Aussie lingo may  confuse American readers such as "I'll bread you!" (meaning to  hit). Illustrations greatly enhance the good-humored prose, and  the appendix offers tips on how teachers, politicians,  relatives, neighbors, and friends can help parents. A short list  of references is included. Highly recommended for all  libraries. Alice Hershiser, Reedville, VACopyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.