From the Bookshelf
During the course of our work, we often find books that we want to let others know about.
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When you buy any of these books from Amazon.com by clicking on the book or title below, MACMH will receive a portion of the purchase price. Your cost will stay the same, but MACMH will benefit from your purchase. |
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| Featured Book |
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Treating Explosive Kids: The Collaborative Problem Solving Approach by Ross W. Greene and Stuart Ablon, 2005.
This is the first comprehensive presentation for clinicians of the groundbreaking approach popularized in Dr. Greene’s acclaimed parenting guide, The Explosive Child. This new work provides a detailed framework for effective, individualized intervention with highly oppositional children and their families. Many vivid examples and Q&A sections show how to identify the specific cognitive factors that contribute to explosive and noncompliant behavior, remediate these factors, and teach children and their adult caregivers how to solve problems collaboratively. The book also describes challenges that may arise in implementing the model and provides clear and practical solutions. |
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| For Parents and Professionals |
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Bringing Up Baby: Three Steps to Making Good Decisions in Your Child’s First Years, by Claire
Lerner and Amy Laura Dombro, 2005. The authors outline a three-step approach to making
decisions that fit your child and your family. According to a summary on the Zero to Three
website, Lerner and Dombro explain “how parents can understand their own parenting style
and its effect on their child, how parents can observe their child to understand what she/he
is feeling and thinking, and how to use those observations to make healthy and effective
decisions.” Paperback edition available from www.zerotothree.org. |
Bringing Up Baby: Three Steps to Making Good Decisions in Your Child’s First Years |
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| From Neurons to Neighborhoods: The Science of Early Childhood Development, from the Committee
on Integrating the Science of Early Childhood Development and edited by Jack P. Shonkoff
and Deborah A. Phillips, 2000. This book presents the research that started a whole new
dialogue about the importance of the paying attention to children’s development during the
earliest years of life. The committee presents thorough, research-based findings on a wide
range of topics, including brain development, relationships, childcare, community issues,
and interventions. Available through the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy
Press, www.nap.edu. |
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| A Good Start in Life: Understanding Your Child’s Brain and Behavior from Birth to Age 6, by
Norbert Herschkowitz and Elinore Chapman Herschkowitz, 2004. This clear and thoughtful
book for parents demonstrates how intricately a child’s early biological and psychological
development are intertwined. The authors rely on the latest research to address the most
common parental concerns, including the burning question, Is there a ‘right way’ to parent?
Available through the Dana Foundation at www.dana.org/books. |
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| Learning & Growing Together: Understanding and Supporting Your Child’s Development, by Claire
Lerner and Amy Laura Dombro, 2000. The first parenting book to emerge from research at
Zero to Three, the “think tank” for very early childhood, this book covers developmental
milestones, temperament, brain basics, and how parents’ life experiences affect their
parenting. Paperback edition available from www.zerotothree.org. |
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| Our FAScinating Journey, by Jodee Kulp, YEAR.Kulp combines a moving story of her family’s efforts to overcome the impact of fetal alcohol exposure with a step-by-step manual on brain damage and rehabilitation. Our FAScinating Journey documents Liz’s early teen years when she was homeschooled and worked to literally rebuild her neurological pathways. Few families may have the resources to replicate this intensive program, but much can be learned from their experiences. (Includes several appendices that summarize the knowledge that formed the basis of Liz’s program.) |
 
Our FAScinating Journey
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| The Out-of-Sync Child Has Fun: Activities for Kids with Sensory Integration Dysfunction, by Carol Stock Kranowitz, 2003.A companion volume to Kranowitz’s popular book, The Out-of-Sync Child, this volume is overflowing with ideas for the home, the playground, and the classroom. The book begins with a summary of sensory integration dysfunction, which often co-exists with developmental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. All activities are carefully explained and categorized so that you know when and how to use them in a therapeutic way. Best of all—they’re fun! Consider “Pound Cookies,” which are decorated with hard candies that have been smashed to smithereens inside a plastic baggie. Many of the activities were submitted by parents who read her first book. |
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| The Primal Teen: What the New Discoveries about the Teenage Brain Tell Us about Our Kids, by Barbara Strauch. YEAR. Strauch, a long-time science reporter and current medical science and health editor for The New York Times, reviews the neurological research and evidence that indicates that the teen brain undergoes “exuberant” growth and development matched only by the first years of life. Her book is an investigation of the teen years from the point of view of parents, professionals, and teens themselves. Her conclusion: “Teens may be, indeed, a bit crazy. But crazy by design.” |
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The Storm in My Brain: Kids and Mood Disorders, by Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, YEAR. (Available from www.bpkids.org or http://mn.nami.org)
A small paperback published by the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance and the Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation—both are based in Illinois. The text, presented in a question and answer format, is simple and reassuring, and the illustrations were created by children and teenagers. |
The Storm in My Brain: Kids and Mood Disorders
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| Survival Strategies for Parenting Children with Bipolar Disorder, by George T. Lynn, 2000. We first discovered George Lynn years ago at the Minnesota Tourette Syndrome Association office when we found an article called “The Wild Child” that he wrote about his son. At last, the words “rage attack” were out in the open! His book provides the same warm, personal acknowledgement of the deepest difficulties parents face in raising children with mental health disorders, along with encouraging, practical ideas for help. |
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| Why Do They Act That Way? A Survival Guide to the Adolescent Brain for You and Your Teen, by David Walsh, YEAR. Popular Twin Cities area psychologist and lecturer, David Walsh considers the current state of research into the adolescent brain and has developed guidelines for parents and others who deal with teens on a daily basis. Walsh offers parents self-exam questions designed to help them develop a parenting style that is compatible with the changes the teen child is experiencing. He advocates relaxing direct attempts to control behavior in exchange for maintaining connection and communication. “Adolescence is not a problem to be solved. It is an experience to be lived,” he concludes. |
 
Why Do They Act That Way? A Survival Guide to the Adolescent Brain for You and Your Teen
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For Children
These books provide credible portrayals of mental illness, emotional health, and ways to resist teasing and bullying. |
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| Edward, the “Crazy Man,” by Marie Day, YEAR. This book looks like any large-format picture book, but it holds a heart-warming story that introduces mid-elementary ages to the concept of serious and persistent mental illness. Edward is a homeless eccentric man who makes costumes from cast-offs. A child he rescues grows up to befriend Edward and provides him with dignity and opportunity. |
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| Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, by Jack Gantos, YEAR. This chapter book has a main character you’re going to love. Joey’s descriptions of how his AD/HD brain works are priceless, and he receives valuable help when he learns to trust the adults around him. Also check out Joey Pigza Loses Control. Both books are available in hard and soft cover and in audiocassette. They are great for reading out loud or for children 8 years old and up to read by themselves. |
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| Matt the Moody Hermit Crab, by Caroline C. McGee, YEAR. This book is a chapter book about Matt (a hermit crab), who is angry at everyone including his family and his wonderful teacher, Ms. Kay (a sea gull). A trip to the hospital and a book called The Bipolar Crab pave the way toward improvement. Published by McGee & Woods, this book comes with a teacher’s guide and is available at http://mn.nami.org. |
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| Nobody Knew What to Do: A Story about Bullying, by Becky Ray McCain, YEAR. This book is notable because its central character is neither the bully nor the victim, but a concerned classmate who has to decide whether telling a teacher is tattling. This book is beautifully illustrated with realistic pictures of a 2nd-grade classroom working through a serious problem together. |
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| On Monday When It Rained, by Cherryl Kachenmeister, YEAR. This is a beautiful introduction to the wide range of childhood emotions. The text introduces everyday situations, and uses photographs of a delightful boy about 4 years old to show the dramatic feelings a boy that age experiences. |
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| The Recess Queen, by Alexis O’Neill, YEAR. This book is a treasure that a teacher introduced to us at a training. In this lively book, Mean Jean the Recess Queen is transformed by the new kid in the class through kindness and friendship. |
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| Simon’s Hook, by Karen Gedig Burnett, YEAR. Based on a fishing metaphor, this book provides many ways to turn away hurtful words (fish who “don’t bite” can swim free). Full of suggestions to empower the child being teased, it provides the opportunity for fun and useful role-playing for a family or in a classroom. |
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