Abuse
When Something Feels Wrong: A Survival Guide About Abuse for Young People, by Deanna S. Pledge, is a resource to direct youth who are being abused to places where they can get help. The book discusses different types of abuse (physical, emotional and sexual) and provides lists, exercises and journal ideas to help victims work through the pain of abuse. The book also contains many stories from and about real teenagers who got help when they were in abusive situations. 214 pages. $14.95. Free Spirit Publishing, 217 Fifth Ave. North, Suite 200, Minneapolis, MN 55401. (612) 338-2068, www.freespirit.com.
African-American
Young, Gifted, And Black: Promoting High Achievement Among African-American Students, by Theresa Perry, Claude Steele and Asa Hillard III, contains three essays urging a national dialogue on the scholastic achievement gap between African-American and white students. The authors say African-American students face unique challenges due to their social identity in a society that often devalues and stereotypes them. These attitudes, the authors say, carry over into school performance and testing. The authors’ objective is to promote a new understanding of the issues African-American students face.183 pages. $25. Beacon Press, 25 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02108. (617) 742-2110, www.beacon.org.
After School
Afterschool Education: Approaches to an Emerging Field, by Gil G. Noam, Gina Biancarosa and Nadine Dechausay, is a straightforward, easy-to-understand guide for parents, administrators and policy-makers who have an interest in after-school programming. The authors survey the state of after-school programs, focusing on three essential aspects of after-school learning: bridging school to after-school time, homework and enriched learning. The book also examines challenges in the field and gives direction for the future of after-school education. 128 pages. $21.95. Harvard Education Press, 8 Story St., 5th floor, Cambridge, MA 02138. (617) 495-3432, www.gse.harvard.edu/hepg/hep.html.
Education
Learning Together: Children and Adults in a School Community, edited by Barbara Rogoff, Carolyn Goodman Turkanis and Leslee Bartlett, describes a different approach to learning and education, called “a community of learners.” This system prioritizes education that builds on children’s interests in a collaborative way, where learning activities are planned by children and adults. Parents and teachers foster learning and learn from their involvement with the children. This book is a useful guide to a concept that is simple to understand. 250 pages. $24.95. Oxford University Press, 198 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016. (212) 726-6000, www.oup.com.
Building Character in Schools: Practical Ways to Bring Moral Instruction to Life, by Kevin Ryan and Karen E. Bohlin, is about the emerging field of character education. The book is a resource and blueprint for teachers, educators, schools and parents who want to help children build good character traits and understand the importance of personal integrity. Each chapter takes educators through the process of setting up such a program in their schools. The book also includes sample lesson plans, a list of programs and a guide for parents. 280 pages. $17.95. Jossey-Bass/A Wiley Imprint, 989 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94103. (800) 956-7739, www.josseybass.com.
Choosing Choice: School Choice in International Perspective, edited by David N. Plank and Gary Sykes, critically examines school-choice policies in nine countries, including England, Chile and South Africa. The authors address the question of how the introduction of choice and competition has changed the educational system in each country, while exploring implications for education policy in the United States. 232 pages. $45. Teachers College Press, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027. (212) 678-3929, www.tcpress.com.
One-Minute Discipline: Classroom Management Strategies That Work, by Arnie Bianco, is a resource collection of over 100 techniques, strategies and ideas to help teachers manage classroom behavior and promote a positive learning environment. The 10 sections focus on issues such as seating arrangements, handling the class clown and dealing with angry parents. These are quick, how-to steps handled on one page (with illustrations), and appear most likely to help the novice teacher or, in some cases, the youth agency staffer. 252 pages. $29.95. Jossey-Bass/A Wiley Imprint, 989 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94103. (800) 956-7739, www.josseybass.com.
Raising Student Aspirations: Classroom Activities for Grades 6-8 and Classroom Activities for Grades 9-12, by Russell J. Quaglia and Kristine M. Fox, stresses the importance of creating a supportive and personalized learning environment for youth. It identifies eight conditions (including “belonging,” “fun” and “excitement”) that need to be in place in order for students to flourish. The book suggests meaningful activities, interaction, discussions and school-wide initiatives to promote each condition. 113 pages. $24.95. Research Press, 2612 North Mattis Ave., Champaign, IL 61822. (800) 519-2707, www.researchpress.com.
Fatherhood
Dad Beat Dead: A Journal of Divorce and Custody, by Ken Yolman, is a personal and somewhat angry account of a custody confrontation battle that resulted in the author being “exiled” from his children. The author lays out the argument that many men who are labeled dead-beat fathers are actually loving parents who are pushed out of their children’s lives by the courts and social services. The book describes the effects of Parental Alienation Syndrome on children, and contends that there is gender bias, deceit, incompetence and unfairness in the courts and social service agencies that determine child custody. 298 pages. $28.79. Xlibris Corporation, 436 Walnut St., 11th floor, Philadelphia, PA 19106. (888) 795-4274, www.xlibris.com.
Girls
When the Breast Fairy Comes: Understanding and Communication with Your Daughter During Adolescence, by Stacey L. Roberts, is a helpful resource for parents of adolescent girls. The author pre-sents personal stories and advice from parents, girls and professionals to assist parents in dealing with their daughter’s adolescence. The book offers suggestions on effective communication, building healthy relationships with adolescent girls and dealing with various adolescent behaviors. It also describes warning signs for depression, substance abuse and other potential problems. 200 pages. $12.95. Celestial Arts, Ten Speed Publishing, P.O. Box 7123, Berkeley, CA 94707. (510) 559-1600, www.tenspeed.com
Grief
Abby and Her Sisters, by Melanie Bellah, is a story about loss, grief and moving on, as told by a mother who has lost two teenage daughters in recent years. This memoir of Bellah’s daughter, Abby, who died in a car accident, is told by her journal entries and narration by the mother. By sharing Abby’s growth and coming of age, including her grief over losing her older sister, the book shows how one family endured such pain and survived. 246 pages. $14.95. Celestial Arts, P.O. Box 7123, Berkeley, CA 94707. (510) 559-1600, www.tenspeed.com.
Health
Sex Has A Price Tag: Discussions About Sexuality, Spirituality, and Self-Respect, by Pam Stenzel with Crystal Kirgiss, offers teenagers information on how to develop personal values that translate into a respect for sex and well-informed decisions about it. The book argues that sex is positive when practiced “inside God’s boundaries,” but when attempted “outside of a monogamous marriage,” the price tag may be too high. The book contains stories about what teens and adults have learned about sex through their own experiences, both good and bad. 136 pages. $9.99. Zondervan, 5300 Patterson Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49530. 800-926-6548, www.zondervan.com.
The Handbook of Child and Adolescent Systems of Care: The New Community Psychiatry, edited by Andres J. Pumariega and Nancy C. Winters, is a useful resource that uses simple language for those involved with the mental health of children, from psychiatrists and psychologists to parents and families. The book addresses issues of national concern in children’s mental health in the context of administrative, legal and funding challenges. The authors cover a wide variety of topics, such as developmental and cognitive psychology in care systems, and discuss best uses of psychopharmacology and family- and community-based interventions. 547 pages. $80. Jossey-Bass/A Wiley Imprint, 989 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94103. (800) 956-7739, www.josseybass.com
Juvenile Justice
Kids Law: A Practical Guide to Juvenile Justice, by John W. Biggers, is a guide for kids who have had a contact with the law that may require either litigation or adjudication. It is also useful for parents, family, friends, teachers, counselors and others interested in the policies, procedures and programs that local and national communities are implementing in juvenile law. The book raises numerous legal questions and concerns that youth have when dealing in criminal and civil areas of law, either because of their own actions or the actions of adults in their lives. 235 pages. $14.95. Black Spring Books, P.O. Box 1728, Tucson, AZ 85702. (520)-292-9070, www.kidslaw.com.
Nonprofits
2002 Miller Not-for-Profit Organization Audits, by Warren Ruppel, combines comprehensive coverage of technical literature with user-friendly advice to create a technically sound and usable audit guide. It also provides electronic practice aids, electronic work papers and a comprehensive disclosure checklist to help auditors cut down on the time-consuming clerical work that is too often performed during audits. 500 pages. $225. Aspen Law & Business, 1185 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036. (800) 234-1660, www.aspenpublishers.com.
Parenting
Problem Child or Quirky Kid?: A Common Sense Guide For Parents, by Rita Sommers-Flanagan and John Sommers-Flanagan, is a resource for parents who are seeking to better understand their children’s behavior. The book offers guidelines for parents to figure out whether a child’s problems are serious and strategies for dealing with those that are. It also offers ideas about where to go for help with especially disturbing or severe behavioral problems. 224 pages. $15.95. Free Spirit Publishing, 217 Fifth Avenue North, Suite 200, Minneapolis, MN 55401. (612) 338-2068, www.freespirit.com.
Writing
Because Writing Matters: Improving Writing in Our Schools, by the National Writing Project and Carl Nagin, describes the current state of writing courses and highlights effective practices to help improve youths’ writing. It also offers a step-by-step guide for developing and implementing programs to help children learn to write more effectively. The book is a valuable resource for educators, youth workers and policy-makers who want to improve the writing of youth at all levels. 138 pages. $24.95. Jossey-Bass/A Wiley Imprint, 989 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94103. (800) 956-7739, www.josseybass.com
Youth Development
Community Youth Development: Programs, Policies and Practices, edited by Francisco Villarruel, Daniel Perkins, Lynne Borden and Joanne Keith, is a resource for policy advocates, researchers and practitioners. The book focuses on the positive youth development techniques that are replacing the traditional deficit-oriented, problem-reduction approach. It also examines critical aspects of the community youth development framework. 445 pages. $34.95. Sage Publications, 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. (805) 499-0721, www.sagepublications.com.
VIDEOS
Abuse
Good Things Can Still Happen: Helping Children Recover from Sexual Abuse, by Films for the Humanities and Sciences, is the animated story of two children dealing with sexual abuse. The video explores the feelings of disgust and repulsion children may have and ways they can cope with them, while stressing that they are not to blame. It reaches the conclusion that despite the abuse, good things can still happen in the children’s lives. The video is designed for professional use by therapists for one-on-one or small-group use, with children ages 6 to 12 who have disclosed sexual abuse. 22 minutes. $89.95. Films for the Humanities and Sciences, P.O. Box 2053, Princeton, NJ 08543. (800) 257-5126, www.films.com.
AIDS
Exposed: The Continuing Story of AIDS, by Films for the Humanities and Sciences, tells the story of four friends – Dennis, Paulie, Andy and Mary – who have to come to terms with HIV. When Mary tests positive for HIV, everyone who’s had unsafe sex with her needs to be tested, including her three friends. While the film shows the difficulties of confronting and coping with HIV, it stresses that HIV is avoidable. It drives home the message to kids that testing HIV-positive can happen to anyone who practice unsafe sex habits. 59 minutes. $129.95. Films for the Humanities and Sciences, P.O. Box 2053, Princeton, NJ 08543. (800) 257-5126, www.films.com.
Mental Health
Real Life Teens: Teen Depression, by TMW Media Group, addresses various issues related to depression, including warning signs, possible causes and destructive choices made under its influence (such as using drugs and alcohol). Real teenagers talk honestly and openly about their own experiences with depression, as well as the related experiences of people they know. The teens’ stories are interwoven with experts offering advice and suggestions on the effects of depression and how to deal with it, such as getting more involved with outside activities and talking to someone you trust. 22 minutes. $59.95. TMW Media Group, 2321 Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice, CA 90291. (310) 577-8581, www.tmwmedia.com.
Fatherhood
Daddy & Me, by Aquarius Health Care Videos, looks at the important role that fathers play in their children’s lives. Children and adults from across the country talk about their relationships with their fathers, whether they have been positive or negative. The video explores the powerful impression, both good and bad, that a father’s relationship makes on a child. It shows the pain children experience when a father is absent, and the happiness of having a father figure involved in their lives. 27 minutes. $195. Aquarius Health Care Videos, 5 Powderhouse Lane, P.O. Box 1159, Sherborn, MA 01770. (888) 440-2963, www.aquariusproductions.com.
Health
Stressed Out: Stress Management 101, by Human Relations Media, is a tool for youth workers (primarily teachers) to help youths confront and deal with stress. Youths, as well as professionals, identify different types of stress, along with the different stressors that create the stress. The video offers stress-reduction and stress-management techniques, and is supplemented with a Teacher’s Resource Book. 27 minutes. $139.95. Human Relations Media, 41 Kensico Drive, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. (800) 431-2050, www.hrmvideo.com.
Parenting
Everybody’s Kids: A Research Report for Television on Parenting in Today’s Culture, by NEWIST/ CESA 7, looks at issues that affect America’s families by comparing today’s problems with those faced by families in the past. The video looks at the negative effects of financial stress, an “irresponsible” media (in its portrayals of violence and sex), working couples and an overall lack of time. It urges parents to get more involved in their children’s lives and makes suggestions on how to rebuild communities by getting to know neighbors. Left unanswered is who will take the first step. 60 minutes. $195. Northeastern Wisconsin In-School Telecommunications, 2420 Nicolet Drive, IS 1040, Green Bay, WI 54311. (800) 633-7445, www.uwgb.edu/newist.
Substance Abuse
Marijuana Exposed, by Human Relations Media, provides information about the physical, social and legal risks of marijuana, while dispelling the misconceptions surrounding the drug. The video shows stories from teens about their experiences with marijuana, as well as advice from experts. It comes with a Teacher’s Resource Guide that features drug education exercises for youths. 18 minutes. $99.95. Human Relations Media, 41 Kensico Drive, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. (800) 431-2050, www.hrmvideo.com.
Violence
The Brutal Truth: A Violence Documentary, by The Cinema Guild, examines the role of violence in the lives of teenagers. Interviews with victims and offenders provide emotional stories dealing with different types of violence, including domestic abuse, gang violence and sexual abuse. Experts also offer opinions and insights. The video shows warning signs of impending violence that adults should watch for and offers tactics for addressing various types of violence. 48 minutes. $275. The Cinema Guild, 130 Madison Ave., 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10016. (212) 685-6242, www.cinemaguild.com.
