Advocacy
Children’s Rights: Policy and Practice, by John Pardeck, is an extensive tool to help readers advocate for children’s rights. Pardeck traces the history of the children’s rights movement, concluding that poverty continues to be “the one issue that affects [the rights of] one out of five children.” He also examines threats to the rights of children in schools, day care, protective services and residential treatment. With comments on current legislation and the inclusion of additional resources on child advocacy, Pardeck’s book is both insightful and helpful. 168 pages. $22.95. The Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice St, Binghamton, NY 13904. (800) 429-6784, www.haworthpress.com.
Promoting Community Child Protection: A Legislative Agenda, by Leigh Goodmark, calls for better legislative practices regarding the protection of children and families. The author says change depends on better implementation and evaluation by workers, centering their programs on communities and families. Using examples from programs across the nation, Goodmark urges youth advocates to sing the praises of community involvement to legislators on all levels. 143 pages. $25. American Bar Association, 740 15th St. NW, Washington, DC 20005. (800) 285-2221, http://www.abanet.org/child/catalog/books.html.
African-American
Too Beautiful for Words, by Monique Morris, is an impressive novel geared toward African-American youth. Morris tells the story of how a boy born to a prostitute mother and pimp father struggles to take control of his life for his own sake and that of his newborn son. Told through four narrators, Morris’ debut novel (just released in paperback) teaches readers about youths’ resiliency in the face of adversity. 274 pages. $11.95. Harper Collins Publishers Inc., 10 E. 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022. (800) 242-7737, www.harpercollins.com.
Bullies
Bully-Proofing Your School: A Comprehensive Approach for Middle Schools, by Marla Bonds and Sally Stoker, introduces a “caring community” program that teachers and administrators can use to create safer environments in schools. The plan – much of which can also be applied to youth-serving organizations – includes a curriculum that varies according to different age groups. Ending with methods on how to intervene in troublesome situations, this resource guide introduces innovative ideas to help curb bullying. 425 pages. $35. Sopris-West, 4093 Specialty Place, Longmont, CO 80504. (303) 651-2829, www.sopriswest.com.
Bullying Behavior: Current Issues, Research, and Interventions, edited by Robert Geffner, Marti Loring and Corinna Young, is a compilation of essays offering different perspectives on bullying, based on research in various school systems. This helpful tool makes educated suggestions on how violence among young children can be dealt with and, ultimately, avoided. 200 pages. $27.95. The Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice St, Binghamton, NY 13904. (800) 429-6784, www.haworthpress.com.
Divorce
I Don’t Want to Talk About It, by Jeanie Franz Ransom, is a children’s book about two parents explaining to their daughter how she will (and will not) be affected by their decision to get a divorce. As is typical of children in the situation, Franz reflects the child’s struggle to directly face her feelings. She just wishes she could be like a “robin and fly away from all of you.” Her story could serve as a helpful first step in getting children to open up about their feelings and concerns. It concludes with advice for adults on reducing the negative effects of divorce on children and explains some of the feelings the child may have. 32 pages. $8.95. American Psychological Association, P.O. Box 92984, Washington, DC 20090. (800) 374-2721, www.apa.org/books.
Group Activities
Conducting Group Discussions with Kids, by Tom Jackson, was created to help teachers and group leaders turn entertaining activities into educational discussions. Jackson includes a helpful four-step discussion outline that is simple and practical, and a section on how to get kids to participate based on their individual personalities. Jackson covers different discussion formats, including small groups or panels. This comprehensive book is easy to read and offers easy-to-implement suggestions. 120 pages. $12.95. Active Learning Center Inc., 3835 W. 800 North, Cedar City, UT 84720. (888) 588-7078, www.activelearning.org/activity_books.htm.
More Team-Building Activities for Every Group, by Alanna Jones, introduces new activities and games for groups, from young children to adult youth workers, that are trying to become more cohesive. Featuring games that help people get to know, trust and communicate with one another, the book helps groups have fun and be creative through team-building activities. The author includes discussion questions after some activities to help groups work out problems. 192 pages. $16.00. Rec Room Publishing, P.O. Box 404, Richland, WA 99352. (509) 946-7315, www.gamesforgroups.com.
Juvenile Justice
Desktop Guide to Good Juvenile Probation Practices, edited by Patrick Griffin and Patricia Torbet, describes the skills, practices and training needed to do the job of juvenile probation well. The guide emphasizes a need for cooperation between the probation system and the community through “practical rehabilitation,” aimed at teaching young offenders skills that are “essential for being law-abiding citizens.” Laced with statistics, definitions and techniques, this book can help juvenile probation practitioners make fundamental changes in the system. 200 pages. $15. National Center for Juvenile Justice, 710 Fifth Ave., Third Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. (412) 227-6950, http://brendan.ncjfcj.unr.edu/homepage/ncjj/ncjj2/index.html.
Mentoring
Mentor Manager, Mentor Parent: How to Develop Responsible People and Build Successful Relationships at Work and at Home, by Linda Culp Downing and Cecile Culp Mielenz, doubles as a workbook and guide for developing mentoring relationships at work and home. Readers will be inspired and forewarned by numerous stories about the struggles and successes of mentors. The authors present a model for mentoring that consists of structuring, coaching, conferencing and teaching “letting-go skills.” 236 pages. $19.95. ComCon Books, 904 Cimarron Circle, Burneyville, OK 73430. (888) 606-7130, www.mentormanagermentorparent.com.
Parenting
Take Back Your Kids, by William J. Doherty, suggests how to be responsible parents in a “difficult time.” Saying that parents are often afraid to take on too much of an authoritative role in their relationships with their children, Doherty suggests how parents can deal with parental peer pressure and with peer influences on children. Urging parents to find a balanced role between confidant and disciplinarian for their kids, Doherty also argues for communities to take on the responsibility of communal child rearing. 158 pages. $12.95. Sorin Books, P.O. Box 1006, Notre Dame, IN 46556. (800) 282-1865, www.sorinbooks.com.
Sexuality
How Homophobia Hurts Children, by Jean M. Baker, discusses how homosexuals are affected by the prejudices they observe and experience as children. Baker contends that gay children are shaped by homosexual stereotypes even before they know their own sexual orientation. He seeks to minimize the damage by thoroughly exploring the stages of coming out, contesting myths about homosexuals and analyzing research about harassment of gays in schools. Perhaps most effective of all is the anecdotal insight provided by gay youth about how discriminatory activity affected them. Baker also suggests ways in which schools, mental health professionals and parents can help such youth. 224 pages. $24.95. The Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904. (800) 429-6784, www.haworthpressinc.com.
Substance Abuse
A Teen’s Guide to Living Drug-Free, by Bettie B. Youngs, Jennifer Leigh Youngs and Tina Moreno, is a comprehensive guide to living without drugs for 12- to 16-year-olds. Each chapter opens with a teen’s story and concludes with questions to think about. The guide is filled with helpful advice, facts, resources and referrals about drug use. 339 pages. $12.95. Health Communications Inc., 3201 SW 15th St., Deerfield Beach, FL 33442. (800) 851-9100, www.hci-online.com.
Teens
Hot Stones & Funny Bones: Teens Helping Teens Cope with Stress & Anger, by Brian Seaward, is an insightful guide that addresses the issues that members of the “millennium generation” face during their stressful teenage years. The author uses advice taken from interviews he conducted with teens from all over the nation, hoping to show his readers that they are not alone in what they are feeling. Seaward uses humor and creativity to keep his audience’s attention. 376 pages. $12.95. Health Communi-cations Inc., 3201 SW 15th St., Deerfield Beach, FL 33442. (800) 851-9100, www.hci-online.com.
Reality Quest: Teens Making the Facts, by Donna K. Wells and Bruce C. Morris, was created to help teens on the road to self-discovery, targeting those who have yet to figure out where they fit in socially. Each chapter starts with online instant messages from real teens and continues using online jargon to increase its appeal to a generation well-versed in the ways of computer correspondence. 266 pages. $12.95. Health Communications Inc., 3201 SW 15th St., Deerfield Beach, FL 33442. (800) 851-9100, www.hci-online.com.
The Girls’ Life Guide to Growing Up, edited by Karen Bokram and Alexis Sinex, is the perfect guide for young teen girls in need of motherly advice without the “I told you so.” The book covers various issues surrounding friendships, family, crushes, school, self-esteem, body image and sexual harassment. Full of pictures, quizzes and question-and-answer sections, young girls will enjoy this handbook while learning the best way to handle situations they are almost guaranteed to face. 256 pages. $11.95. Beyond Words Publishing, Inc., 20827 NW Cornell Road, Suite 500, Hillsboro, OR 97124. (503) 531-8700, www.beyondword.com.
The Me I See: Answering Life’s Questions, by Wood N’ Barnes Publishing, is a workbook filled with thought-provoking questions for middle and high school students. Prompting self-expression, this handy tool helps teens recognize their thoughts and feelings. With prompts such as, “A memory I would like to be able to erase is … ,” this is a fun and creative way to journal and is also a means of self-discovery. 110 pages. $24.95. Wood N’ Barnes, 2717 NW 50th, Oklahoma City, OK 73112. (800) 678-0621, www.woodnbarnes.com.
When Nothing Matters Anymore: A Survival Guide for Depressed Teens, by Bev Cobain, is an impressive guide to confront depression. Written by the cousin of rock star Kurt Cobain, whose own suicide shocked and depressed millions of loyal fans, the book offers advice and hope to depressed teens while also taking on the issues of suicide and substance abuse. Also included are resources for information and support, teen testimonies of struggles with depression and descriptions of various types of depression. 165 pages. $13.95. Free Spirit Publishing, 217 Fifth Ave. N., Suite 200, Minneapolis, MN 55401. (800) 735-7323, www.freespirit.com.
Youth Development
New Directions for Youth Development: Theory, Practice, Research, edited by Richard Lerner, Carl Taylor and Alexander von Eye, is a highly analytical journal that addresses the ways to practice positive youth development amid a torrent of negative influences. Through seven chapters, “New Directions” examines diverse youth groups and discusses the potential for interventions that would facilitate positive development. 170 pages. $28. Jossey-Bass, 989 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94103 (888) 378-2537, www.josseybass.com.
What Do You Stand For? A Kid’s Guide To Building Character, by Barbara Lewis, is an interactive tool that helps young people discover what they believe in. Lewis includes numerous activities, inspirational stories from kids and resources to aid this exploration. Instead of suggesting models of proper behavior, the author aims to get her young audience to analytically form its own opinions. Lewis includes a list of resources that teachers and parents can consult for additional information about character education. 277 pages. $19.95. Free Spirit Publishing, 217 Fifth Ave. N., Suite 200, Minneapolis, MN 55401. (800) 735-7323, www.freespirit.com.
What Young Children Need to Succeed, by Jolene Roehlkepartain and Nancy Leffert, is a guide covering how to build the so-called “40 developmental assets” necessary for the success of children from birth to 11 years old. The authors divide the assets into eight categories, such as empowerment and positive identity. They then offer more than 1,000 creative and practical ideas for building assets by age group (infant, toddler, preschool and elementary school). “What Young Children Need” is an excellent resource for parents and youth workers handling pre-adolescent youth. 312 pages. $11.95. Free Spirit Publishing, 217 Fifth Ave. N., Suite 200, Minneapolis, MN 55401. (800) 735-7323, www.freespirit.com.
VIDEOS
Foster Care
Foster Kids, Our Kids, produced by Newist, is a heart-wrenching look at kids in the foster care system. Kids talk about their past abuse, social workers, difficult times in the child care system and the joy of being in foster care. Foster parents share stories of how their lives changed after taking in troubled kids. The video also hits on weaknesses in foster care systems that need to be repaired. 26 minutes. $195. Newist, 2420 Nicolet Drive, Green Bay, WI 54311. (800) 633-7445. www.uwgb.edu/newist.
Health
HIV/AIDS, produced by Naytur Multimedia Solutions, is an informative video to educate urban teens on HIV/AIDS. Real stories, acted-out scenes and discussion questions challenge teens to think about the sexual choices they are making. Ending with a review of the facts and an original HIV prevention music video, this educational tool is a cool way to teach teens safety and responsibility. 25 minutes. $82.99. Naytur Multimedia Solutions, 6513 State Route 162, Maryville, IL 62062. nayturms@aol.com, www.nayturboy.com.
The Constant Shadow, produced by Aquarius, portrays parents of children suffering from chronic medical conditions. They share their stories and circumstances to help others to gain insight into how to cope with similar challenges. “Constant Shadow” is a valuable source of support for families in such painful situations. 28 minutes. $140. Aquarius Health Care Videos, 5 Powderhouse Lane, PO Box 1159, Sherborn, MA 01770. (508) 651-2963, www.aquariusproductions.com.
Eating Disorders, produced by TMW Media Group, discusses why teens become obsessed with weight and educates viewers on consequences and solutions. Teens talk about the pressure they feel to look good. Counselors define what eating disorders are, how they affect a person’s life, what causes eating disorders and what can be done to change this destructive behavior. Discussion questions and video presentation ideas for teachers are also included. 22 minutes. $59.95. TMW Media Group, 2321 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Suite 101, Venice, CA 90291. (800) 262-8862, www.tmwmedia.com.
Race
Racial Tension on Campus, produced by TMW Media, deals with racism and cultural tensions in school settings. Youths of various backgrounds share their feelings on race relations, discrimination in their schools and the need to appreciate other cultures. The video identifies what causes racist attitudes and what teens can do to change the prejudice they encounter. This video also contains questions to help youth workers lead a discussion. 20 minutes. $59.95. TMW Media Group, 2321 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Suite 101, Venice, CA 90291. (800) 262-8862, www.tmwmedia.com.
Violence
Streetfighters: Breaking the Cycle, produced by Active Parenting, follows the work of Rev. Leon Kelly as he tries to keep urban youth off the street and rehabilitate criminals. He educates children about the dangers of gang life and the importance of being productive. Kelly shares stories from his violent past and explains how he mended his ways, hoping to convince his listeners that violence is not the way to solve problems. This short but powerful film might help teens make positive choices and avoid violent conflicts. 17 minutes. $79.95. Active Parenting Publishers, 810-B Franklin Court, Marietta, GA 30067. (800) 825-0060, www.activeparenting.com.
