"Research consistently affirms the importance of parental reading to young
children as a bond of warmth as well as a stimulus for cognitive, emotional, and
social development. Dr. Golding has provided an invaluable tool for parents and other
caregivers by identifying and organizing lists of illustrated books for helping
children experience basic securities, develop a sense of personal worth, and explore
their imaginative potential. The books, arranged for different age levels, also cover
a range of problematic aspects in the child's life from daily stresses, fears, or
worries to responses to traumatic events. The brief but insightful explanations
provided in each area may really aid many adults in helping the children in their
care confront the difficulties and also the joys of growing up. In a time of national
concern about school readiness and literacy this is a great way to introduce children
to the pleasures and values of reading."
- Jerome L. Singer, Ph.D.