Laura E. Berk is Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Illinois State University. She is a leading authority on early childhood development and education, with more than thirty years of research experience and numerous publications, including three popular texts and articles in publications such as Psychology Today and Scientific American. She lives in Normal, Illinois.

"Berk minces no words in this important book on a much-debated subject.... Her lucid insights are complemented by examples throughout the text. Berk's application of sociocultural theory makes this an essential title in the child development collections of academic and public libraries, and her suggestions about how to structure home and school environments make this an invaluable reference for school administrators and daycare operators as well."--Library Journal (starred review)

"Berk illustrates her concepts with observed dialogues and cites many studies and examples. Instructive and even inspiring...educators and motivated parents will find much to explore."--Publishers Weekly

"This is one incredible book! A veritable college course for parents on children's mental development, richly detailed, persuasively reasoned, and sensitively conveyed. Its contents are directly linked to the explosive growth in scientific knowledge in developmental psychology yet rendered in a style not at all stuffy or pompous. Among the best advice the science of child psychology has to offer, this book contains not a shred of nonsense, folklore, or unscientific advice.... Exceptionally informative, this books strikes just the right balance among the various influences that determine a child's mental development. It does so without talking down to parents, treating them instead as the experts they are on their children yet who are in search of further information on what science has to tell us about our children's development."--Russell A. Barkley, Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School

"In this wonderful volume Berk outlines some of today's most exciting ideas about child development. She goes well beyond theory, however, by providing insightful suggestions for concrete practice. This is a powerful, yet accessible text by a major author that promises to have a major impact for years to come on how we go about teaching and parenting."--James V. Wertsch, Professor and Chair, Department of Education, Professor, Department of Psychology, Washington University in St. Louis

"A refreshingly practical and pragmatic guidebook for parents and teachers of young children. Complex and controversial concepts, such as biological vs. environmental influences, are readily understandable through the use of vignettes, illustrations, and clear explanations. Berk emphasizes the critical role of adults as she offers insights into young children's thoughts, emotions, and actions and discusses accompanying implications for practice."--Kathy R. Thornburg, Director of the Center for Family Policy and Research, University of Missouri