By the Ages: Behavior & Development of Children Pre-Birth Through Eight

One of the many side effects of becoming a parent is the ever-larger stack of books about children that it's all too difficult to find time to finish reading. By the Ages is one quick-reference manual that cuts to the chase and supplies parents with basic, helpful information about what parents can expect from their child's social, intellectual, and physical development from the first few months after conception through the eighth year. At once fascinating and pragmatic, the majority of the book is presented in lists and bullet points that manage to balance thoroughness with brevity.

The first two chapters are a mini course in developmental psychology, complete with multiple-choice tests at the end. Explaining everything from age-level expectancies to the interrelatedness of development areas, these 35 pages define important terms, provide examples, and explain a few basics, like why it's flat-out impossible to toilet train an infant. Further chapters are separated by age; if you're the parent of a 2-year-old with another child approaching age 5, you'll know exactly which pages to head for first. This book is as well-designed for caregivers as it is for parents; the "special tips" section in each chapter is addressed to both, and suggests ideas like strategically planting a toddler's favorite toys throughout a room to help encourage crawling. Also included for each age is a short list of what a typical day might bring: how much sleep to expect, how many calories are needed, and what sort of general behaviors a caregiver might expect. Whether you're an expectant first-time parent or are well on your way to sending your child off to kindergarten, this little manual is full of simple guidelines that even the busiest parents have time to check out. --Jill Lightner