Childhood and Children: A Compendium of Customs, Superstitions, Theories, Profiles, and Facts

(Hardback)

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Description

The author of "Are You Listening, God" and "Small World: A History of Baby Care from the Stone Age to the Spock Age" has created an "almanac" devoted to the subject of the world's children. It is packed with hard statistical data as well as humorous, dramatic, surprising and even inspiring facts, making this reference work a valuable tool for both professional researchers and parents. Joan Bel Geddes touches on virtually every aspect of childhood and children in this easy reading volume. She begins with a review of the history of childhood, describing changes in laws and attitudes towards children through the centuries and in different countries. Child development from newborn to teenager follows with facts on multiple births including Siamese twins, and today's high tech babies. A section on nutrition and health care shows the great progress that has been made in making childbirth safer and includes an hilarious list of repulsive medicines given to children in previous centuries. Other sections focus on children in mythology, folklore and religion, family life, "child's play" which includes anecdotes about outstanding child athletes, children in the arts, entertainment and literature. The final sections take up contemporary subjects with useful information and statistics about the problems of children today. Bel Geddes takes an honest look at child abuse and abandonment, unmarried teenage mothers, adoption and custody laws, foster care, runaways, extreme poverty and child labour, violence and crime, racial conflicts and children in war. To conclude, the author shares both pessimistic and hopeful predictions about how children will fare in the 21st century.

Reviews

.,."an excellent A-Z index....This book should certainly stimulate further anyone sufficiently interested in the subject to take the book off the shelf....A good read."-Library Journal
.,."delightful to browse....This work will be useful as a ready-reference source for both public libraries and academic libraries that offer courses in the social sciences."-ARBA
...an excellent A-Z index....This book should certainly stimulate further anyone sufficiently interested in the subject to take the book off the shelf....A good read.-Library Journal
...delightful to browse....This work will be useful as a ready-reference source for both public libraries and academic libraries that offer courses in the social sciences.-ARBA
It is a valuable resource about a group often described as society's most precious resource.-Rettig on Reference
The book informs, surprises, sometimes shocks, entertains, and engages....There is simply no way that anyone who is conserned about and interested in children can fail to benefit from having this book....It would be hard to match the breadth, depth, scope, and wisdom about children contained in this book.-Issues in Child Abuse Accusations
This delightful book is unquestionably the most interesting single-volume reference about the subject of children and childhood. Written in a clear and lively language, the book is aimed at parents, educators, professionals, and everyone who lives and works with kids.-Michael Pastor, Youthtopia Website
This is an excellent reference source for anyone writing about children in history, health, social issues, economics, or science.-VOYA
This will make an excellent reference addition to any library stocking titles on cross-cultural understanding or childhood history and culture....this packs in fine detail.-Reviewers Bookwatch
..."an excellent A-Z index....This book should certainly stimulate further anyone sufficiently interested in the subject to take the book off the shelf....A good read."-Library Journal
..."delightful to browse....This work will be useful as a ready-reference source for both public libraries and academic libraries that offer courses in the social sciences."-ARBA
"It is a valuable resource about a group often described as society's most precious resource."-Rettig on Reference
"This delightful book is unquestionably the most interesting single-volume reference about the subject of children and childhood. Written in a clear and lively language, the book is aimed at parents, educators, professionals, and everyone who lives and works with kids."-Michael Pastor, Youthtopia Website
"This is an excellent reference source for anyone writing about children in history, health, social issues, economics, or science."-VOYA
"This will make an excellent reference addition to any library stocking titles on cross-cultural understanding or childhood history and culture....this packs in fine detail."-Reviewers Bookwatch
"The book informs, surprises, sometimes shocks, entertains, and engages....There is simply no way that anyone who is conserned about and interested in children can fail to benefit from having this book....It would be hard to match the breadth, depth, scope, and wisdom about children contained in this book."-Issues in Child Abuse Accusations

Author Bio

JOAN BEL GEDDES is a freelance writer and editor who has broad experience in the field of children and childhood. She was the editor-in-chief of several publications and spent more than 25 years as a consultant, information officer, and chief of publications at UNICEF. Bel Geddes received her bachelors degree in sociology and economics from Barnard College and has written several other books including Are You Listening, God w to Parent Alone: A Guide for Single Parents all World: A History of Baby Care from the Stone Age to the Spock Age d Children Praying: Why and How to Pray with Your Children.