Any book that is advising parents or carers about topics related to life style, children and the environment needs to be easy to use and easy to find the information or the book won’t be used.  Many of these types of books sometimes get bogged down in information when a simple answer to a question is all that is required.  Raising Baby Green is quite the opposite this clear easy to understand answers to questions as well as great illustrations.

Raising Baby Green is one book that uses great examples which both explain and advise parents on topics related to things such as administering medicine to children through to deciding what type of paint to use in the nursery.  Practice examples throughout the book make this a resource that can be used time and time again to answer questions as they arise.

Another great feature of this book is that is starts with the pregnancy so that the parents or carer can start turning to greener options even before the baby has been born.  Many books focus on the time after the baby is born however Raising Baby Green: The Earth-Friendly Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Baby Care focuses on all the stages of having children starting from the pregnancy.

This book is a great resource for any parents or carers that are expecting or have small children and are looking to lessen their impact on the environment.  There are only a few books that cover this idea of caring for the environment while you care for your children and this one is by far the best choice for information in this area.

Raising Baby Green: The Earth-Friendly Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Baby Care is available on line as well as through many of the major book stores.  Many of the reviews for this book suggest that it is a great present for expecting parents and carers.

This book discusses many styles of parenting and focuses on such topics as control based parenting, equity based parenting and also temperament and personality of both the parents and the children involved.  The book also discusses these topics as well as others such as communication and problem solving or solutions and strategies using easy to follow examples that are able to be applied to the family situation.  One point that should be noted about this book is that you should take the time to read the whole thing before you decide to implement any of the suggestions in the book.  This is important so that problems or difficulties can be dealt with quickly and easily and that you totally understand the concepts covered in the book.

One of the main advantages of this book is that the team of authors that have put this information together are not just professionals in respective fields that deal with children and parent relationships but they are all parents that have practical experience with their own children.  This is very important to most parents as this provides some support to the information and techniques described in the book.

The Art of Empowered Parenting: The Manual You Wish Your Kids Came With is a great book for parents that are looking for a different style of parenting for their children.  The book discusses many different ways of parenting with an emphasis on consideration of both the parent and the child’s feelings.  This book is a great guide for parents especially those that are new to the parenting thing and are looking for a place to start.  This book is available online and is also available from major book stores.  The Art of Empowered Parenting: The Manual You Wish Your Kids Came With can also be a great book to give as a gift to parents who are about to have their first child.

The author, Nancy Carlsson-Paige, is a professor in the area childhood education and has also majored in conflict resolution as well as appearing on numerous TV shows and publishing several other books in relation to parenting and raising children.  The book, Taking Back Childhood, was written to provide practical suggestions and advice to parents who are looking to develop better relationships with their children as well as raising them in a positive environment.

The central themes of this book is that it teaches parents that it is important to have a strong relationship with your child or children that is non violent, creative, caring and positive.  The book details practical steps for parents to follow and encourages parents to give their children toys that allow for creative play such as blocks and play dough rather than buying what the book calls media based toys.  For children that are older, Carlsson-Paige details strategies and encourages parents to use what she terms as a power sharing strategy which involves the parent working through the problem with the child and working out a solution together.  Chapters within this book cover things such as Through their eyes which teaches parents about child development theory, No more time outs which details alternatives to this parenting style, Mighty does not make right which challenges parents to resolve problems more effectively and love above all which covers many of the positive things that parents can do through their role as a parent.

Much of the information in this book is not new with many leading parenting books and organisations agreeing with and recommending parenting that is based on positives rather than negatives.  This book however is a great reference for parents especially those who are new to the parenting scene.  This book has received excellent reviews from readers who have commented on the book being easy to read and a great reference to have on hand.

The author Heidi Murkoff has changed and revised many sections of the book so that the 4th edition is as up to date as possible and includes topics that are relevant to expectant mums today.  Many of the new sections of this book cover topics that are relatively new to the whole pregnancy topic such as fetal development, a more detailed section on preconception as well as much more information on expectant mums who are carrying more than one child.

As well as adding a few more topics to the book, Murkoff has also included information in this edition which answers many of the questions that came from readers and parents who had requested more information on various topics after reading the first editions of this book.  The 4th edition has also been updated with information on recent developments and current trends in relation to pregnancy such as changes and developments in obstetrics through to answering questions about tattoos and aromatherapy.

One of the strengths of this hand book is the easy to read chapters as well as the very practical advice that is offered throughout the book.   There are more tips and hints in this new edition of the book and as with the other sections of the book Murkoff has included information on topics and items that readers had asked and blogged after reading the first editions of the book.

This book is a must for parents who are considering a child and for parents who are expecting.  The easy to read format of the book make finding information easy and can answer many of the questions that are asked especially by women who are expecting their first child.  This new revised edition also features a chapter on expectant fathers and answers many of the questions that your other half may ask.

If you are expecting a child especially if it is your first make sure you get a copy of this book as you will have all your questions about pregnancy answered much much more.

The book is divided into seven chapters which can be read in any order and used as a reference when problems and challenges arise.  The authors have included a question to start each of the chapters which mirror the questions given to the parents who have participated in the workshops.  The chapters in the book include helping children deal with feelings, cooperation, punishment alternatives, encouraging autonomy, praise, freeing children from playing roles and the last chapter which show parents how to put all this information together and use it in a practical way.

As part of the exercises in the book there is also role playing activities which are a valuable tool when learning about how to deal with things such as conflict with children and adults.  Practicing the role playing exercises in the book makes it easier to put into practice the knowledge from this book.

This book, How to Talk so Kids Will Listen and Listen so Kids Will Talk, is great for parents who are having trouble with their children especially if they find it hard to communicate with them.  The exercises in the book are designed to focus on communicating with children in a mature and honest way that will benefit them in the future.  Communication is an important skill for all children and by using some of the exercises in this book you can provide a great foundation for this skill which will develop further as they develop.

This book basis much of its theory and examples on the way that the author related and learnt from her own children.  By watching and understanding how her own children reacted to things and comparing their behaviour to experiences from her own childhood.  Eybergen  uses a technique called the principles of attachment and has successfully used this technique for her own children who have totally different personalities.

The book covers many of the problems and experiences that are common amongst  children especially when raising more than one child at a time.  The book encourages parents to learn from their children and use the theory mentioned in the book to find suitable solutions to many of the problems that can occur when raising children.  Out of the Mouths of Babes covers in details some of the more common frustrations with raising children such as toilet training, effective discipline, the common problem of eating at all ages, getting children to sleep through the night and dealing with the problems of sibling rivalry and minimising conflict between children.

Out of the Mouths of Babes is a great book for parents who have tried other methods of raising children with limited success.  This book differs from other approaches used with children as it helps both the parents and the children to learn and use new skills.  These new skills include important things such as raising childrens self esteem, effectively managing and preventing conflict and problem solving using effective techniques that can be easily put into practice.

Many people who have reviewed this book, Out of the Mouths of Babes, have given the book the thumbs up and recommend that parents who are looking for a new and effective way of raising their children should get a copy of this book.

This book is written in such a way that parents will find it easy to reference the information which is divided into various chapters and sections.  The book also deals with practical and the psychological issues that are sometimes forgotten about or perceived as not that important.  The book has chapters covering topics which include the decision to walk away from your career, Introduction to walking away from having it all, right through to topics covering strategies for special needs children and some expert advice for mothers on topics such as the mommy brain and staying sane while combating the challenges of being a stay at home mum.

As well as the specific chapters on commonly asked questions this book is also a great resource as it includes information gathered from interviews and discussions with stay at home mothers.  This information is straight from the horse’s mouth and is very relevant especially for new stay at home mothers.

This book has a big tick in the credibility box as it also includes detailed information from people in the fields of family therapy, career counsellors, education experts and medical specialists.  This information is provided in an easy to read format and is featured with examples and personal experiences of the author.

This book is the perfect resource for any mother who is considering leaving the work force to be a stay at home mother or for the mother who has made the decision and is looking for information or help in surviving in their new role.    This book combines loads of information, advice and checklists which have all come from firsthand experience as a stay at home mum.

This parenting book is easy to read and is very well organised with each topic allocated to a different chapter.  The easy referencing of the information is great for parents who do not have a lot of time to sit down and read a book.  The one page summaries are also great for parents who just need an answer to a question and unlike other parenting books you don’t have to read the whole book you can just refer to the chapters and information that you need.

Karp has written this book for parents of new born babies with many of the techniques suitable for children between the ages of new born and three months old.  In the book, Karp refers to this time in a baby’s life as the fourth trimester with most of the information provided targeted at this stage of the child’s life.  The Happiest Baby on the Block also provides parents with information on what new born babies are experiencing, why they cry all the time and also why they won’t go to sleep and stay asleep for long.

Many parents have read The Happiest Baby on the Block: The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep Longer,  and have given positive reviews for the information and the way the book has been put together.  Many of the parents that have recommended this book have had success with many of the techniques described in the book such as ‘jiggling’ the baby to help sooth them when they are upset and crying.

This baby book is one of the best for parents of newborns and would make a great gift for any new parents.  Many of the techniques explained and used in the book are easy to learn even for the newest of parents.  If you are dealing with a fussy baby then this book may just be the one you  have been looking for.

Hewlett’s core message within the novel is to plan for children as you would do with your career ambitions. She suggests to plan ahead with the pros and cons of making decisions throughout different stages of a female’s career. Hewlett is optimistic that women have the choice to create a life that is advantageous for themselves, their partner, their extended family and social circle of friends which all impact on their decisions.

Hewlett utilizes data that is complemented by several interviews conducted with women and men alike that face the contentious issues of parenting, career aspirations and relationship success. These issues are hot topics in national conversations, which are conveyed by Hewlett to assist women to achieve what they want. This is made possible with a range of solutions presented by Hewlett for American professional women to overcome the big hurdles of combining and balancing work and family. The program of solutions are helpful in providing guidance for mothers and fathers alike to plan ahead to excel with the most suited and fulfilled option with their future.

As the founder of the National Parenting Association, Hewlett confirms that the vast majority of high-achieving women in America who do not have children, yearn for them based on a study of baby lust. These women are generally career focused during their 20s and 30s and lose out to having children at the realization in their 40s that they want children. However, Hewlett explores the contentious issue of infertility treatment which is expensive, dangerous to the women’s vitality and does not guarantee a healthy pregnancy. Therefore, Hewlett promotes that women should strive for a workplace that has family-friendly values and to ensure to have children before the age of 35.

Hewlett’s novel was described by the New York Times as, “provocative…bold…raising important questions, exposing some disquieting realities,” illustrating the novel is a worthwhile read for all women who face the contemplation of balancing a career with family. Business Week newspaper promoted Creating a Life as successfully presenting the challenges faced by professional women. Similarly, The Boston Globe conveyed the novel as an important and powerful book.

The authors, Diana and Julia Loomans, have created a book which combines many ideas, thoughts, techniques and processes in one easy to read book which can be used as a reference for parents.  All of the examples and ideas in the book have been tested to ensure that they work and that they are in line with the main principles of the book which is that parents respect their children not control them which allows them to build and develop self esteem.

100 Ways to Build Self-Esteem and Teach Values is divided neatly into ten chapters which can be referenced and read in any order.  What makes this book unique and in some ways quite special is that unlike most parenting books this one hasn’t been written by a panel of medical experts or psychologists but instead has been penned by a parent and child team.  Only now do we recognise the importance of self esteem not just in adults but also in children as they experience and move through their lives.  This book has been designed to help parents provide the ideal environment to foster self esteem amongst their children.  100 Ways to Build Self-Esteem and Teach Values has a range of ideas and activities to use as children, like adults learn and experience things in different ways so one thing may work for one child but not another so it is important to have a few different options available which this book provides.

Many of the parents and readers of this book, 100 Ways to Build Self-Esteem and Teach Values have given a high rating with many commenting that they have had great success while using even one or two of the ideas that are mentioned in the book.  Many of the readers also commented that this book had totally changed the way that they relate to their children in a more positive way.  If you are looking for a parenting book that is full of fresh new ideas that work, this one is definitely worth having a read.