Brookes Publishing

Developing cross-cultural competence; a guide for working with young children and their families, 4th ed.

Lynch (special education, San Diego State U.) and Hanson (special education, San Francisco State U.) assemble 13 chapters by specialists in psychology, special education, social work, and other fields — many of whom are bicultural or bilingual — who describe recommended practices in human services, literature on intercultural effectiveness, and other information to help professionals who provide educational, health care, and social services to families of children with special needs develop interventions that are culturally competent. After discussing issues surrounding working with these families, they provide cultural information about major groups in the US, including their history, values, and beliefs; issues related to child rearing, family, health and healing, developmental risk, and disability; and customs, events and holidays, and vocabulary. This edition has four new contributors and has been updated and expanded. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

The pre-K debates; current controversies and issues.

Zigler (psychology, Yale U.) et al. bring together US researchers in education, child development and social policy, psychology, economics, and anthropology to examine key debates in pre-K education in 39 chapters. They consider key debates related to targeted vs. universal preschool, teacher credentials vs. competencies and supports, cognitive/academic emphasis vs. a whole child approach, public schools only vs. other sites, how quality and accountability can be ensured, and what should come before and after preschool. Concluding articles discuss lessons from two states and the danger of overselling preschool as a cure for problems with the educational system. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)